Polaris
Polaris investigates local and/or long-range structures of crystalline materials over a wide range of temperatures and pressures, with academic and applied impact. A large detector array allows fast data collection or the use of very small samples. Recent highlights include studies of lithium-ion batteries, high-performance alloys, and salty ices likely to occur on the moons of Jupiter.
Instrument scientists
To find out more about each team member, click the + symbol.
Technical information
| Moderator | H2O at 316K |
| Incident wavelength range | ~0.15 to ~5.4 Å (peak flux at ~0.9 Å) |
| Incident flight path | 14.0 m |
| Incident beam dimensions (max) | 40 mm (h) x 15 mm (w) |
| Detector solid angle | 5.67 ster (coverage from 6.7° - 167° 2θ) |
| Typical sample volume | 0.5 - 1 cm3 (but can be as small as ~10 mm3) |
Related resources
Sample environment
Typical sample environment equipment:
- Room temperature sample changer (20 positions)
- Furnace (room temperature to 1000°C)
- Pulse Tube CCR (5 K to 300 K)
- Helium flow cryostat (2 K to 300 K)
Accepts dilution insert to reach ~0.1 K using copper IVC and sample can.
Visit the ISIS sample environment page or speak to your instrument contact.
Recent publications
Instrument reference
All publications and datasets based on experiments using Polaris should cite that the data is collected by DOI: 10.5286/isis.instrument.3713. Experiment DOIs follow the format 10.5286/ISIS.E.RBXXXXXXX, where XXXXXXX is the 7-digit experiment (RB) number and these can be viewed via the Data Gateway.
Reference publication: R.I. Smith, S. Hull, M.G. Tucker, H.Y. Playford, D.J. McPhail, S.P. Waller and S. T. Norberg, “The upgraded Polaris powder diffractometer at the ISIS neutron source,” Rev. Sci. Instrum. 90, 115101 (2019). DOI: 10.1063/1.5099568