Taipan and Sika
Taipan (thermal three-axis spectrometer)
The installation of the three-axis spectrometer, Taipan, is progressing apace. 
The monochromator drum is installed and wedge motions have been optimised. The dance floor has been polished and awaits a survey before the installation of the secondary spectrometer. Wiring of the spectrometer motors and associated encoders will commence shortly.
Sika (cold three-axis spectrometer)
Two hundred researchers went to the beautiful mountain village of Sun-Moon Lake in Central Taiwan on 9-10 June, for an International Workshop on Neutron Scattering. The context was the investment by the National Science Council of Taiwan in the new high-performance cold-neutron three-axis spectrometer Sika at our neutron-beam facility, and the National Science Council's support for a strong user program across all the instruments at OPAL.
The main meeting was followed by a smaller, more focussed workshop on 11-12 June to determine the nature of the secondary spectrometer for Sika, which is scheduled to commence operation in 2009.