European Spallation Source
| European Spallation Source (ESS) | |
|---|---|
| Location: | Lund, Sweden |
| Scientific Purpose: | Provide unique information about the structure and properties of materials across the spectrum of biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering. |
| Web site: | http://europeanspallationsource.se/ |
The European Spallation Source (ESS) is a multi-disciplinary research facility based on what will be the world's most powerful pulsed neutron source. It is currently under construction in Lund, Sweden. At least 17 European countries will act as partners in the construction and operation of ESS. While the facility is being built in Lund, the ESS Data Management and Software Centre (DMSC) will be located in Copenhagen, Denmark. First neutrons on the target are expected in 2019, with the user program planned for 2023, and construction of the entire facility complete by 2025. ESS is the world's next-generation neutron source, and will enable scientists to see and understand basic atomic structures and forces at length and time scales unachievable at other spallation sources.
ESS became a European Research Infrastructure Consortium, or ERIC, on 1 October 2015. The European Spallation Source ERIC is "a joint European organisation committed to constructing and operating the world's leading facility for research using neutrons."
ESS will use spallation, a process in which fragments of material (spall) are ejected from a body due to impact or stress. The future facility is composed of a linear accelerator in which protons are accelerated and collide with a rotating, helium-cooled tungsten target. By this process, intense pulses of neutrons are emitted and led through beamlines to experimental stations, where research is done on different materials. This will help discover and develop new materials with applications in manufacturing, pharmaceutical drugs, aerospace, engines, plastics, energy, telecommunications, transportation, information technology and biotechnology. According to its designers, ESS will provide neutron beams up to 30 times brighter than any current neutron source. ESS is also designed to be carbon-neutral and is expected to reduce CO2 emissions in the region.
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