The upgrade of the IN6 time-of-flight spectrometer at ILL is now complete.
The new “Sharper” neutron spectrometer offers an order of magnitude higher count rate than its predecessor.
This upgrade took place in two stages:
- the SHARP project: the first phase of reconstruction of the secondary spectrometer (sample environment and detection) was completed in 2021 with the introduction of the SHARP (Spectromètre Hybride Alpes Région Parisienne) beam.
- the SHARP+ project: this second phase involved relocating SHARP and building a completely new primary spectrometer (guide, monochromatization system and switch to a “pulsed” beam).
The project was completed on May 30, 2024, when the first neutrons were sent to the new instrument.
The IN6 line offered 4 incident wavelengths: 4.1, 4.6, 5.1 and 5.9 Å. Thanks to its position at the end of the new H15 guide, a new anti-harmonic filter (3 Disk Choppers) and a new Graphite monochromator (HOPG), the spectrometer provides continuous access to the full range of incident wavelengths between 2 and 6 Å. Compared with IN6, it offers a significantly extended range of energy resolution. To illustrate this feature, the new machine bears the gentle name SHARPER (SHARP Extended in Resolution).
SHARPER reste un instrument CRG A (Collaborative Research Group Instrument), géré et exploité par le Laboratoire Léon Brillouin (LLB, CEA-CNRS, Saclay).
SHARPER remains a CRG A (Collaborative Research Group Instrument), managed and operated by the Laboratoire Léon Brillouin (LLB, CEA-CNRS, Saclay).
The June-July 2024 cycle was devoted to measurements to validate radiation protection aspects, as well as electronics and performance tests. These will be briefly repeated at the start of the next cycle in April 2025, during which it is also planned to welcome a few “friendly users”.
SHARPER is not yet open for proposals in the current September call for experiments, but will be in the spring 2025 call.
See you soon, for great experiments on this new instrument with enhanced performance!
The SHARPER team