Multi-National Research Facility Opens Door for Canadian Researchers

Neutrons Canada welcomes a new opportunity for Canadian scientists and students to access one of the world’s leading neutron beam facilities. Researchers based in Canada can now apply directly for neutron beam time at the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) in Grenoble, France, which was previously not an option. 

“The opening of direct access for Canadian researchers to ILL is exciting for our community,” said John Root, Executive Director of Neutrons Canada. “This is one of the world’s premier neutron beam facilities.  The opening comes at a time when Canadian researchers and institutions are working to rebuild our sovereign capability for materials research with neutron beams.  It is a valuable step forward in a journey of many years.”

The Canadian Neutron Long-Range Plan calls for a right-sized and sustainable national neutron beam program covering domestic capabilities and access to a portfolio of major international neutron facilities. When stable operating funding is secured, such a program would further expand and sustain access to ILL and other leading neutron sources in Europe and the United States to meet the full range of Canadian research needs.

At this time, ILL has opened special access to Canadians in anticipation of a formal partnership agreement with McMaster University, funded through a Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) award, entitled Building a Future for Canadian Neutron Scattering Part 2. The CFI award reflects the collective efforts of a national coalition of 16 Canadian universities, with co-leaders Bruce Gaulin and Patrick Clancy from McMaster University, to help rebuild Canadian capacity for materials research with neutron beams. Neutrons Canada was pleased to provide strategic support during development of the CFI proposal.

The ILL is a multinational facility with the world’s brightest reactor-based neutron source and largest suite of neutron beam instruments.  It is funded and managed by 13 member countries, all in Europe. A formal partnership with a Canadian institution would therefore mark a notable expansion of ILL’s constituency beyond its historical European base. The willingness of ILL to welcome Canadian researchers reflects the strength of Canada’s neutron science community and the value of deeper international links at a time when access to leading neutron facilities is increasingly competitive.

The new access to ILL is not a substitute for a future full-scale, national neutron beam infrastructure program, but it provides immediate value by empowering Canadians to conduct world-class neutron-beam research without delay.