downtoearth-subscribe

Neutron streams

The US Department of Energy is experted to endorse plans of build- ing a US $3 billion particle accelerator. The primary purpose of the accelerator will be to produce tri- tium for nuclear weapons (Nature, Vol 376, July 20, 1995).

But the facility will have another spin-off. it will be the world's premiser source of neutrons. This will be good news to many researchers who have been bemoaning the cancellation of the Advanced Neutron Source, a US $2.8 billion research reactor, last February. The tritium producing accelerator could be used as a source of neutrons for studying material and biomolecules.

Related Content