At 10 MW thermal power, MURR is the largest neutron source on a university campus in the United States and is well-suited for neutron scattering research. The Neutron Scattering Group at MURR operates five distinct instruments for studying the structure and dynamics of matter. This suite of instruments consists of a triple-axis spectrometer (TRIAX), a neutron reflectometer (GANS), and two powder diffractometers (2XC and PSD). The first two are unique in a university setting in the U.S.
Neutrons are invaluable probes for studying condensed matter due to their wave-particle duality. Slow-moving neutrons are especially effective for examining the structure and dynamics of materials because their wavelength is similar to the interatomic spacing in condensed matter, and their energy matches the characteristic vibrations of these materials.
Neutrons complement other scattering methods, such as optical, X-ray, and electron scattering, but possess unique properties that make them the preferred method for investigating certain materials, particularly hydrogenous and magnetic materials.