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.
Recent Results
Three data sets of a phase-separated polymer-blend sample were taken with detector distances between 1.26 and 20m, and successfully merged in absolute units covering a q-range of 0.003 – 0.73 A-1 , see image below:
- Red dots – low q with a source-sample distance (SSD) 20.3 m and sample-detector distance (SDD) 19.8 m.
- Green dots – medium q with SSD 10 m and SDD 10.9 m.
- Blue dots – high q with SSD 4m and SDD 1.3 m.
 |
| Figure 1: Molar Mixture of two normal- alkanes |
The sample is a 2:1 molar mixture of two normal-alkanes of 28 and 36 carbons for which the longer chain has been deuterated. The two semi-miscible components have been quenched from the molten state to ambient and allowed to age for 10 years. The resultant scattering pattern and multiple reflections indicates that the system has produced a modulated superstructure. This is as a result of the chain-length mismatch and, to a lesser extent, an isotope effect. This system has been discussed in detail in "Incommensurate Modulation of Phase Separating Binary Paraffin Mixtures.”, E.P. Gilbert, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 1 (1999) 5209-5214.
 |
| Figure 2: SANS reults from high amylose maize starch |
The image above shows SANS results from High Amylose Maize Starch in heavy water showing both q-4 power law behaviour at low q and lamellar structure at q ca. 0.07 A-1 (ca. 90 A). This sample serves as the test sample for the development of in-situ digestion experiments. The rig for this has recently arrived and is being tested off-line.
Quokka has just taken its first scattering pattern, see below, of a natural opal; data were collected in 20 minutes.
 |
| Figure 3: Asymmetric Pattern |
Quokka also took a first asymmetric pattern from a graphite artist's pencil; data were collected in about 3 minutes with the detector essentially as far away as we could get from the sample.
 |
| Figure 4: Detecto Vessel |
The image below shows the 1m2 area detector, installed on its carriage in the detector vessel.
 |
| Figure 5: Quokka |
Software and testing continues on Quokka. The operating licence was received in November 2008..