The ISIS pulsed neutron and muon source at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire is a world-leading centre for research in the physical and life sciences. It is owned and operated by the Science and Technology Facilities Council.
ISIS produces beams of neutrons and muons that allow scientists to study materials at the atomic level using a suite of instruments, often described as ‘super-microscopes’. It supports a national and international community of more than 2000 scientists who use neutrons and muons for research in physics, chemistry, materials science, geology, engineering and biology. It is the most productive research centre of its type in the world.
From the original vision over 30 years ago, ISIS has become one of the UK’s major scientific achievements. As the world’s leading pulsed neutron and muon source, ISIS has changed the way the world views neutron scattering.
All about ISIS
At the heart of ISIS is an 800 MeV proton accelerator producing intense pulses of protons 50 times a second. The accelerator consists of an injector and a synchrotron.
Neutrons play a definitive role in understanding the material world. They can show where atoms are and what atoms do. By scattering neutrons off sample materials, scientists can visualise the positions and motions of atoms and make discoveries that have the potential to affect almost every aspect of our lives.
ISIS is a high power accelerator that fires high energy protons into two targets to release neutrons for experiments. A world leading centre for research, ISIS provides facilities for over 2000 scientists from 30 countries visiting each year.
A large proportion of the science carried out on ISIS maps directly onto the UK’s key scientific priorities including energy, environment, health, information technology and security.
Annual Reports
ISIS provides world-class facilities for neutron and muon investigations of materials across a diverse range of science disciplines.
ISIS 2008 details the work of the facility over the 2007-2008 period, including accounts of science hightlights and descriptions of major instrument and accelerator developments, together with progress on the Second Target Station and the facility's publications for the year.
Neutrons and Muons
In addition to producing neutrons, ISIS is also the world's most intense source of pulsed muons for studies in materials science.
The neutron is a powerful tool for the study of condensed matter (solids and liquids) in the world around us, having significant advantages over other forms of radiation in the study of microscopic structure and dynamics.
Achievements
Starting from basic physical investigations into antiferromagnetism in insulators and rare earth metals, the range of disciplines utilising neutron scattering has expanded far beyond the initial expectations for the technique.
Highlights in ISIS science 1984-2007
Highlights in ISIS science 1984-2007
A Journey Through ISIS
A behind the scenes look at using neutrons and muons for cutting-edge science
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