Our technology

Producing neutron beams by spallation involves a complex engineering infrastructure to accelerate particles to high energies. Each section of the ISIS machine is looked after by a highly skilled and experienced team. These specialist teams of physicists, engineers and technicians work hard to ensure that neutron and muon beams are produced reliably at optimum efficiency 24 hours a day, 7 days a week during user cycles.

Computing

Computing is critical to the operation of ISIS and the experiments ru​n here​. Specialist hardware and software is developed and supported for the research community by various ISIS groups.

Design

ISIS is continuously evolving to improve efficiency and become more sustainable, while remaining world class. This requires a large team of design engineers, who develop new technology for use in the accelerator, target areas and instruments, as well as in the electrical systems and physical infrastructure of the facility.

Our Detector Systems Group researches and develops new detector technologies for the neutron and muon beamlines starting from the physics of detector materials through to delivery of large detection systems.

Experiment operations

Running user experiments requires a diverse team of technical staff, including our Cryogenics, Sample Environment, Support Laboratories, Electrical Support groups and our Target and Instrument Operations teams. These staff enable the provision of complex and unique capabilities for user experiments, including the extremes of pressure and temperature.

Instrumentation

Our Experiment and Accelerator Controls groups develop and support the control system software, hardware and infrastructure that enables scientists, technical staff and users to effectively control the accelerator, targets and experiments.

The neutronics group is responsible for simulating the target, reflector and moderator assemblies of the two target stations in order to maximise the 'useful neutrons' available to instruments. It is also responsible is on-going operational support work such as shielding and activation calculations. This includes support to the instruments that ISIS is developing for the ESS (LOKI and FREIA).