The Department of Energy has approved a one billion dollar expansion to Oak Ridge National Lab's Spallation Neutron Source (SNS).

The expansion is going to create a second target site at what is already the largest and most powerful pulsed neutron scattering facility in the world. This will double the amount of research capable at one of the world's premier materials labs.We are probably one of the foremost materials labs in the country, if not the world. -Bill Cabage, media relations at Oak Ridge National Lab

"We are probably one of the foremost materials labs in the country, if not the world," said Bill Cabage, with media relations at ORNL. "This is one of the places to be if you want to do neutron scattering research."

Neutron scattering research uses super chilled neutrons to identify and measure the atomic and molecular structures of materials. 

The chilled and slowed neutrons are fired into a test material located at the target site, and the neutrons bounce off the atoms or molecules that compose the material. The goal is to measure these bounces, and from that infer what the atomic structure of the material is. Then new and improved materials with special qualities can be developed.

This type of materials research is important because modern life is dependent upon it.

"Materials underpin everything we do. Our cell phones, batteries, and pharmaceuticals are all materials based, and so the more materials you can develop that are specialized, or advanced, the lighter weight and stronger things become," said Cabage.

Without material science there would be no iphones, plastics, or nylon stockings.

Oak Ridge has long history in the neutron sciences, even going back to WWII and the lab's role in creating the atomic bomb. In the 1990's the government was looking to build a new, more powerful neutron source in the U.S. that would rival those built in Europe, and chose ORNL for the site.

The SNS was finished on time in 2006 with a budget of 1.4 billion dollars.

The original target has 24 instruments used to measure certain types of neutron scattering, specific energies, or certain types of materials. 

The new target site, known as the Second Target Site, will have an additional 25 instruments, and is budgeted for 1 billion dollars. The project is currently in the first step of production know as Critical Decision- Zero, which means ORNL has been given the go ahead for planning and budgeting. The project has an estimated completion date of 2020.

When the second target is completed, up to 4,000 scientists a year will be able to uses its facilities to study materials.

"It's a user facility," said Cabage, "which means if you send a proposal about what you want to study, and it's reviewed, you can come use it.  Basically if you publish your material you can come use it for free."