Echidna
A new monochromator (Ge, <335> cut, variable focus) has been commissioned which dramatically increases Echidnas flexibility in terms of its neutron wavelength range and available intensity/resolution combinations. The instrument configurations may be explored with the interactive simulator on the instrument web page: http://www.ansto.gov.au/research/bragg_institute/facilities/instruments/echidna/specifications
in order to match instrument performance to material complexity before the experiment.
Above: The new Ge <335> monochromator: the array of 23 Ge wafer stacks under test at AZ systems in France prior to shipping to Australia in late 2008. Each of the crystal stacks can be individually oriented.
The first user experimental teams to take advantage of this new Echidna setup included: Patrick Allen & Siegbert Schmid (U. of Sydney); Erich Kisi (U. of Newcastle) & Daniel Riley (U. of Melbourne); and Jessica Hudspeth (ANU) & Michael James (Bragg Institute).