Canada NRC Opens Neutron Research Facility

A new reflectometer is being unveiled today at the National Research Council Canadian Neutron Beam Centre (NRC-CNBC) in Chalk River, Ontario. Unique in Canada, the instrument uses neutrons that the NRC said will open up research possibilities such as automobile hydrogen storage systems or improved medical implants. The reflectometer

Reflectometer ribbon-cutting (left to right): Patrick Pilot, coordinator, institutional relations, Canada Foundation for Innovation; John Yakabuski, member of Parliament; Brian McGee, Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. vice president, nuclear laboratories; Cheryl Gallant, member of Parliament; Allison Barr, director of research, Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation; Ted Hewitt, vice president of research, University of Western Ontario; Pierre Coulombe, NRC president (Photo: National Research Council Canada)

joins a suite of five other neutron instruments at the NRC-CNBC. NRC President Pierre Coulombe said, "NRC, in partnership with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, is pleased to serve as the steward of this new resource in order to maximize its accessibility to universities, industries and other users across Canada." The NRC conducts various research projects in physics, engineering and life sciences using neutrons, but most of its experiments are performed by Canadian universities; the NRC provides training and access to resources. The proposal to build the NRC-CNBC was led by the University of Western Ontario and supported by 12 other universities; it was funded in a partnership between the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the province of Ontario (through the Ontario Innovation Trust and the Ministry of Research and Innovation) and the NRC.