Neutron Scattering at HIFAR—Glimpses of the Past

Abstract

This article attempts to give a description of neutron scattering down under for close on forty-six years. The early years describe the fledgling group buying parts and cobbling instruments together to its emergence as a viable neutron scattering group with up to ten working instruments. The second section covers the consolidation of this group, despite tough higher level management. The Australian Science and Technology Council (ASTEC) enquiry in 1985 and the Government decision not to replace the HIgh Flux Australian Reactor (HIFAR), led to major expansion and upgrading of the existing neutron beam facilities during the 1990s. Finally, there were some smooth years of operation while other staff were preparing for the replacement reactor. It has concentrated on the instruments as they were built, modified, replaced with new ones, and upgraded at different times.

Facilities in Quantum Beam Science

“…Margaret Elcombe worked there as a scientist for over 40 years, from which she reports generations of technologies, such as goniometers taken from a gun mount, the beginning of computerization, hand-driven data acquisition, and other anecdotes [7]. Techniques for polarized neutrons matured here, and later famous students took their first data, such as Hugo Rietveld who developed the whole-pattern fitting for powder diffraction analysis named after him.…”