Today, our QUOKKA small-angle neutron scattering instrument was back in service and working well, albeit with thermal rather than cold neutrons.

As expected, the flux is significantly reduced, by an order of magnitude at a wavelength of 5 Angstroms.

All of QUOKKA’s systems, including detector, velocity selector, vacuum pumps, etc. are working well and scattering from a standard sample (binary paraffin blend of C₂₈H₅₈:C₃₆D₇₄) has been measured and the data successfully processed using the standard software.

Some experiments will be possible in this configuration, although they will take much longer than they would with OPAL’s cold neutron source operating.

As stated in our news piece from 16th March, it is hoped that OPAL’s cold neutron source will return to service by July 2013.

The QUOKKA small-angle neutron scattering instrument is now back in service, albeit with thermal rather than cold neutrons. This illustration was part of the first data produced from Quokka.