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.
Location	Lund, Sweden
Proposer	ERIC
Project website	ess.eu
Status	Under construction
Type	Research Laboratories
Start date	2013
Completion date	2025

Science with neutrons
Foundations
Neutron temperature Flux, Radiation, Transport Cross section, Absorption, Activation
Neutron scattering
Neutron diffraction Small-angle neutron scattering GISANS Reflectometry Inelastic neutron scattering Triple-axis spectrometer Time-of-flight spectrometer Backscattering spectrometer Spin-echo spectrometer
Other applications
Neutron tomography Activation analysis, Prompt gamma activation analysis Fundamental research with neutrons: Ultracold neutrons, Interferometry Fast neutron therapy Neutron capture therapy
Infrastructure
Neutron sources: Research reactor, Spallation, Neutron moderator Neutron optics: Reflector, Supermirror Detection
Neutron facilities
America: HFIR, LANSCE, NIST CNR -SNS Oceania: OPAL Asia: J-PARC, HANARO Europe: BER II, FRM II, ILL, ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, JINR, SINQ Historic: IPNS, HFBR Under construction: ESS
v t e

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 co-located with DTU in Lyngby, Denmark.^[3][4][5] Its 13 European contributor countries are partners in the construction and operation of the ESS.^[6] The ESS is scheduled to begin its scientific user program in 2027, when the construction phase is set to be completed.^[7] The ESS will assist scientists in the tasks of observing and understanding basic atomic structures and forces, which are more challenging to do with other neutron sources in terms of lengths and time scales.^[8] The research facility is located near 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 2027.

During operation, the ESS will use nuclear spallation, a process in which neutrons are liberated from heavy elements by high energy protons. This is considered to be a safer process than uranium fission since the reaction requires an external energy supply which can be stopped easily. This facility is an example of a "long pulse" source (milliseconds).^[9][10] Furthermore, spallation produces more usable neutrons for a given amount of waste heat than fission.

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 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.^[11]

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,^[12] an initiative established by the EIB Group in collaboration with the European Commission under Horizon 2020, the EU's research and innovation program.^[13][14]