Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

CHRNS VSANS - Very Small-Angle Neutron Scattering

 

Center for High Resolution Neutron Scattering (CHRNS)
Maximizing access for the scientific community to transformative neutron scattering instrumentation
VSANS Schematic

Sponsored by the National Science Foundation as part of the Center for High Resolution Neutron Scattering (CHRNS), this brand new 45 meter long Small-Angle Neutron Scattering (VSANS) instrument on neutron guide NG3 was put into operation in 2017.

The instrument has a number of design features to make it more versatile than the 30 m instruments:

  • High Resolution detector
  • Converging beam collimation
  • Multiple detector arrays
  • Narrow or broad wavelength resolution

For more information see Design Features

Specifications/Capabilities

Q-range 0.002 nm-1 to 10 nm-1
Size Regime 1 nm to 2,000 nm
Source Neutron Guide (NG-3), cross-section: 60 mm x 150 mm

Power Outlets

220V, 30A, 1-phase - Qty. 3

208V, 30A, 3-phase - Qty. 2

208V, 60A, 3-phase - Qty. 2

110V, 30A, 1-phase - Numerous UPS and non-UPS

Monochromator

  Velocity selector Mirror HOPG
Wavelength Range 4.5 Å to 12 Å 5.3 Å 4 Å to 6 Å
Wavelength
Resolution (fwhm)
12 % ~ 40% 1%

Collimation

Source-to-Sample
Distance
4 m to 22 m in 2 m steps
Collimation Types Circular Pinhole, Multiple converging beams or Narrow slits
Sample Size 5 mm diameter to 36 mm x 72 mm
Sample-to-Detector Distance Front Middle Rear Carriage
0.6 m to 10 m 2.5 m to 18 m 10 m to 22 m

Detectors

  Front Middle Rear Carriage
Type He(3) tubes He(3) tubes Scintillator + CCD
Resolution 8 mm 8 mm 0.2 mm
#Panels 4 4 1
Size 2 x 380 mm wide x 1000 mm tall
2 x 500 mm wide x 380 mm tall
220 mm wide
500 mm ta
Created October 1, 2018, Updated June 20, 2023