ANSTO's research capabilities, led by the OPAL nuclear research reactor and associated instruments provide access to users investigating areas as diverse as materials, life sciences, climate change and mining/engineering.
Echidna - High-Resolution Powder Diffractometer
Instrument Scientist
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| Echidna - High-Resolution Powder Diffractometer |
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More information on Echidna
Powder diffraction is the bread-and-butter method of neutron scattering, and one in which Australia has long had significant strength. Neutron powder diffraction is particularly useful for materials with light elements in the presence of heavy ones (e.g. oxides, borides, carbides, etc.) and for magnetic materials, for example, materials such as superconductors, pharmaceuticals, aerospace alloys, cements, minerals, zeolites, hydrogen-storage media and optical materials.
We have 2 world-class powder diffractometers: ECHIDNA high-resolution powder diffractometer; and WOMBAT high-intensity powder diffractometer. ECHIDNA is optimised for structure determination of new materials. The instrument uses a single wavelength and a highly collimated neutron-beam to improve resolution.
This diffraction technique can accurately resolve both complex atomic and magnetic structures. Relevant fields of study using ECHIDNA are solid-state physics, materials science, chemistry, geosciences, and engineering.