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NIST Center for Neutron Research

A national user facility that advances economic and technical excellence in the U.S. by providing world-class neutron measurement capabilities to meet the needs of researchers from industry, academia, and government.

Notice to Users

NCNR has nearly completed an extensive repair, maintenance, and upgrade project. Return to scientific operations is planned for 2026. Once an operating schedule has been finalized, NCNR will issue a new call for proposals.

Center for High Resolution Neutron Scattering

Maximizing access for the scientific community to transformative neutron scattering instrumentation

A consortium for the advancement of neutron-based measurements for manufacturing of soft materials

NEWS FOR NCNR USERS

32^nd CHRNS Summer School on Neutron Scattering - An in-person school will be hosted at the NCNR from July 27-31, 2026, and focus on methods and applications of small angle neutron scattering and neutron reflectometry.

The deadline to apply is March 9, 2026.

Facility Upgrades During the Unplanned Outage will improve the collective data rate for the NCNR instrument suite by more than a factor of 2.

NIST Neutron Source Pre-Conceptual Design - This recent publication details plans for a new NIST reactor.

Neutrons for the Future - The report from the workshop "Neutrons for the Future" has been released.

Economic Impact Study - RTI has undertaken an economic impact assessment of investments in U.S. neutron research facilities.

CHRNS Non-Equilibrium Structure of Materials Initiative - CHRNS is supplying advanced neutron capabilities to characterize materials out of equilibrium.

New Neutron Spin Echo for the Nation - Funded by NSF, NIST and the Center for Neutron Science at the University of Delaware have built a new spin echo spectrometer

Getting Great Data with CHRNS - This 2½ minute video describes the Center for High Resolution Neutron Scattering, a key partnership with the National Science Foundation

See Differently with Neutrons at NIST - Watch a 2½ minute animated explanation for a general audience of what we do at the NCNR

News and Updates

View from near ceiling shows NCNR guide hall filled with big pieces of scientific equipment, including several long cylindrical "guides" running toward the far end of the room.

New Report Highlights Economic Value of Neutron Science to U.S. Industry

September 5, 2024

Research using neutron beams provides an economic return far larger than the cost of building and operating neutron facilities, according to an economic impact...

Cells’ Electric Fields Keep Nanoparticles at Bay, Scientists Confirm

January 23, 2024

The surprisingly strong effect could have implications for drug design and delivery.

NCNR Comprehensive Cooperative Agreement Program

March 15, 2023 - May 15, 2023

The NIST Center for Neutron Research is seeking competitive applications from eligible applicants for activities that will advance the research of NCNR users...