Addressing social and economic challenges

Neutrons Canada

Enabling impactful research in clean energy, advanced manufacturing, safety, health, and quantum innovation through a national neutron beam program.

What is research using neutron beams?

Neutron beams are commonly used to probe materials or objects, which could be anything from molecules to living systems. Just like beams of light are used in a microscope to learn about materials, beams of neutrons scatter from materials to reveal details that cannot be “seen” with other scientific tools.

There are many fields of research for which beams from a bright neutron source are required. These fields span natural sciences and engineering, and include certain areas of health research and the humanities such as treating cancer and non-destructive probing of historical artefacts.

More Impact Examples

Clean Energy Production

Engineers study materials for electricity generation methods that do not produce greenhouse gases including hydroelectric, wind, solar, and nuclear energy, to make them more reliable or cost-effective.

Health & Food Security

Life scientists are developing better cancer treatment, and better coatings for medical devices. They study biomolecules such as cholesterol, vitamin E to unravel the mysteries of our bodies or develop sustianable foods. They study plants to develop drought-resistant crops.

Electric Vehicles and Clean Energy Storage

Chemists study the structures of new materials for batteries, fuel cells and hydrogen storage, and other technologies for electric vehicles and clean energy storage.

Future Breakthrough Technologies

Physicists study quantum materials, including superconductors and spintronic materials, to revolutionize computers, energy, medical diagnostics and even the Internet of Things.

Cleaner, More Reliable Vehicles

Engineers study metal alloys, looking for ways to make reliable, light-weight parts for cars and trucks that will boost energy efficiency, thereby reducing emissions from traditional vehicles and aiding the uptake of electric vehicles.

Nuclear Security

Engineers study materials to reduce threats with technologies to prevent the spread of weapons and to identify illicit materials.

Planes

Engineers are studying materials to make jet engines more fuel-efficient, reduce scrap waste and production costs, to improve the lifetime of critical parts, and to advance methods to repair engines.

Ships

Defense researchers study new methods for repairing Canadian ships, and our allies are now advancing one of these methods further to save money on high-speed, light-weight ships.

Oil & Gas

Engineers study materials to help to decide when to replace pipeline sections to prevent leaks, or to develop more reliable components for harsh conditions.

Other Industries

Engineers study metal products to increase safety and performance, and boost competitiveness.

All Impacts

To read more about the impact of research using neutron beams, view our Research Stories 
Research Stories

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