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European Spallation Source

European Spallation Source ERIC
Scientific Purpose: Provide unique information about the structure and properties of materials across the spectrum of biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering.
LocationLund, Sweden
ProposerERIC
Project websiteess.eu
StatusUnder construction
TypeResearch Laboratories
Start date2013
Completion date2025
Science with neutrons
Foundations
Neutron scattering
Other applications
Infrastructure
Neutron facilities
ESS logo

The European Spallation Source ERIC (ESS) is a multi-disciplinary research facility currently under construction[1] in Lund, Sweden.[2] Its Data Management and Software Centre (DMSC) is situated in Copenhagen, Denmark.[3][4] Its 13 European contributor countries are partners in the construction and operation of the ESS.[5] The ESS is scheduled to begin its scientific user program in 2023, with the construction phase set to be completed by 2025.[6] The ESS will enable scientists to observe and understand basic atomic structures and forces, which is currently unachievable with other neutron sources in terms of lengths and time scales.[7] The research facility is located close to the Max IV Laboratory, which conducts synchrotron radiation research. The construction of the facility began in the summer of 2014 and the first science results are planned for 2023.

During operation, the ESS will use nuclear spallation, a process in which neutrons are liberated from heavy elements by high energy protons. This a much safer process than uranium fission since the reaction requires an external energy supply which can be stopped easily.. This facility was an example of a "long pulse" source (milli-seconds).[8][9]

The facility consists of a linear accelerator, in which protons are accelerated and collide with a rotating, helium-cooled tungsten target, generating intense pulses of neutrons. Surrounding the tungsten are baths of cryogenic hydrogen, which feed neutron supermirror guides. It operates similarly to optical fibres, directing the beams of neutrons to experimental stations, where research is performed on a range of materials.

Neutron scattering can be applied to a range of scientific explorations in physics, chemistry, geology, biology, and medicine. Neutrons serve as a unique probe for revealing the structure and function of matter from the microscopic down to the atomic scale, with the potential for development of new materials and processes.[10]

During the construction, the ESS became a European Research Infrastructure Consortium, or ERIC, on 1 October 2015.

The European Investment Bank made a €50 million investment in the ESS. This investment is supported by InnovFin-EU Finance for Innovators,[11] an initiative established by the EIB Group in collaboration with the European Commission under Horizon 2020, the EU's research and innovation program.[12][13]

  1. ^ "European Spallation Source - Homepage". ESS. 2014. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  2. ^ European Spallation Source. "Construction Site Weekly Updates". europeanspallationsource.se. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  3. ^ European Spallation Source. "DMSC". europeanspallationsource.se. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  4. ^ "Data Management & Software Centre - ESS". europeanspallationsource.se. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  5. ^ "ESS - Introduction". European Spalliation Source. 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Activity Report 2015 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ European Spallation Source. "Unique Capabilities of ESS". europeanspallationsource.se. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  8. ^ Mezei, Ferenc (1996). "The raison d'être of long pulse spallation sources". Journal of Neutron Research. 6 (1–3): 3–32. doi:10.1080/10238169708200095.
  9. ^ Mezei, Ferenc (1997). "Long pulse spallation sources". Physica B: Condensed Matter. 234–236: 1227–1232. Bibcode:1997PhyB..234.1227M. doi:10.1016/S0921-4526(97)00271-8.
  10. ^ "How the humble neutron can help solve some of the universe's deepest mysteries | Research and Innovation". projects.research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu. 2023-05-29. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  11. ^ "EU Finance for Innovators factsheet" (PDF). European Investment Bank. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  12. ^ Bank, European Investment (2022-01-27). EIB Activity Report 2021. European Investment Bank. ISBN 978-92-861-5108-8.
  13. ^ "InnovFin EU Finance for innovators". EIB.org. Retrieved 2022-05-12.

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