Periodic Reporting for period 3 - SINE2020 (World class Science and Innovation with Neutrons in Europe 2020 – SINE2020)
Reporting period: 2018-10-01 to 2019-09-30
SINE2020 – world-class Science and Innovation with Neutrons in Europe – united 18 partners from European neutron and muon centres, universities and research institutes, around two major goals:
- Preparing the European neutron community for the unique opportunities to be provided by tomorrow’s European Spallation Source (ESS), the largest ESFRI research infrastructure project/landmark (Strategy Report on Research Infrastructures, Roadmap 2016), planned for user activity in 2023.
- Developing the innovation potential of today’s large-scale neutron and muon facilities.
To achieve its goals SINE2020 had been structured into 10 work packages. WP1 to WP4 addressed two common objectives: foster collaboration among the user community and nurture future generations of users, from academia and industry. WP5 to WP10 consisted of Joint Research Activities concentrating on technical tasks identified as important for the scientific challenges to be addressed by this community.
- Preparing the European neutron community for the unique opportunities to be provided by tomorrow’s European Spallation Source (ESS), the largest ESFRI research infrastructure project/landmark (Strategy Report on Research Infrastructures, Roadmap 2016), planned for user activity in 2023.
- Developing the innovation potential of today’s large-scale neutron and muon facilities.
To achieve its goals SINE2020 had been structured into 10 work packages. WP1 to WP4 addressed two common objectives: foster collaboration among the user community and nurture future generations of users, from academia and industry. WP5 to WP10 consisted of Joint Research Activities concentrating on technical tasks identified as important for the scientific challenges to be addressed by this community.
Management, Dissemination, Education and Industrial Liaison (WP1 to WP4):
All the partners and WPs (1 to 10) respected the deliverables and milestones within the timeline as given in the DoA. Since the official kick-off of the SINE2020 project in October 2015, partners met in yearly General Assemblies (MS2). The progress of all WPs has been continuously reported on the project’s internet platform (http://www.sine2020.eu) and via our social network channels. Our neutron and muon e-learning portal registered > 1000 users with more than 15000 visits. It addresses especially young scientists, which is crucial for the future scientific impact of our experimental techniques. Further, WP3 has supported more than 40 European schools (25 introductory/17 advanced). Our Industry Liaison Group strengthened the cooperation between neutron facilities and industry via workshops, roadshows, self-organised events (e.g SYNERGI 2018 and 2019) and finally test measurements, leading to numerous case studies, published on our web-portal. The gained experience has been summarized in the final deliverable Business Model for scope, access and IP for neutrons and industry showing strategies to improve service for industry and enhance industrial use at the facilities.
Scientific Progress and Technical Developments – Joint Research Activities (WP5 to WP10):
Within WP5 (Deuteration) a new network has been created to address a long-standing bottleneck in sample availability for neutron experiments in biology and soft condensed matter. DEUNET has grown into a successful example of synergy gain by joint R&D activities and by sharing infrastructure and transnational provision of samples between large scale facilities. It provides now a catalogue of deuterated materials to the user community and forms the basis for future development.
In WP6 (Macromolecular crystallogenesis) ILL finalised the investigation and feasibility testing of automated robotic approaches for the growth of crystals with sufficient volume for neutron measurements. Additional feasibility studies for protein crystal alignment under field turned out to be highly successful and open a promising new direction for the future. The ESS worked on the optimization of deuteration strategies, quality check of obtained crystals by X-ray diffraction and adaption of vapour diffusion conditions. FZJ concentrated efforts on the design of a crystallization apparatus.
The continuous development of sample environment in WP7 has always been a key issue for present and future impact of neutron scattering in science. The version 1 of the Sample Environment Communication Protocol (SECoP) is now publicly available. Cryostats and furnaces are now 3x to 5x faster whilst producing up to 3x less background. Muon instruments can now perform experiments at 50% higher pressures on larger samples and neutron scattering clamp cells are going to follow the same route. NMR experiments combined with neutron scattering are now possible and muonium chemistry is becoming reality.
WP8 (Instrumentation – e-tools) demonstrated an impressive efficiency gain in simulating complex instrumental setups, including sample and background considerations. To this end the common data format MCPL has been optimized, allowing now flexible switching between different MC software tools. Another key activity in WP8 was the development and assessment of novel materials for instrument shielding. Finally, new concepts for Larmor labelling using compact instrument have been studied.
WP9 – Detectors: The development of a range of different detector technologies for high rate high resolution neutron scattering applications has continued, together with the development of a high rate detector technology for muon spectroscopy. As examples LIP has realised a fivefold increase in the neutron detection efficiency of its resistive plate technology, while the ILL has achieved two-dimensional position resolution using a novel cathode layout in its Microstrip Gas Chamber.
WP 10 (Data Treatment) has set the standards for future software development at neutron facilities, providing user software, which will be maintainable, sustainable, extensible and reliable. The software packages SasView (Small Angle neutron scattering), BornAgain (reflectometry), MuhRec (Imaging) and MANTID have continuously been developed and reached the level of 5 releases/software package/year. Continuous effort in atomic simulation tools for muons and neutrons paid with e.g. the release of a library for local field calculations for muons (MUESR), improved stability and sustainability for MDANSE (neutron spectra from molecular dynamics calculations).
All the partners and WPs (1 to 10) respected the deliverables and milestones within the timeline as given in the DoA. Since the official kick-off of the SINE2020 project in October 2015, partners met in yearly General Assemblies (MS2). The progress of all WPs has been continuously reported on the project’s internet platform (http://www.sine2020.eu) and via our social network channels. Our neutron and muon e-learning portal registered > 1000 users with more than 15000 visits. It addresses especially young scientists, which is crucial for the future scientific impact of our experimental techniques. Further, WP3 has supported more than 40 European schools (25 introductory/17 advanced). Our Industry Liaison Group strengthened the cooperation between neutron facilities and industry via workshops, roadshows, self-organised events (e.g SYNERGI 2018 and 2019) and finally test measurements, leading to numerous case studies, published on our web-portal. The gained experience has been summarized in the final deliverable Business Model for scope, access and IP for neutrons and industry showing strategies to improve service for industry and enhance industrial use at the facilities.
Scientific Progress and Technical Developments – Joint Research Activities (WP5 to WP10):
Within WP5 (Deuteration) a new network has been created to address a long-standing bottleneck in sample availability for neutron experiments in biology and soft condensed matter. DEUNET has grown into a successful example of synergy gain by joint R&D activities and by sharing infrastructure and transnational provision of samples between large scale facilities. It provides now a catalogue of deuterated materials to the user community and forms the basis for future development.
In WP6 (Macromolecular crystallogenesis) ILL finalised the investigation and feasibility testing of automated robotic approaches for the growth of crystals with sufficient volume for neutron measurements. Additional feasibility studies for protein crystal alignment under field turned out to be highly successful and open a promising new direction for the future. The ESS worked on the optimization of deuteration strategies, quality check of obtained crystals by X-ray diffraction and adaption of vapour diffusion conditions. FZJ concentrated efforts on the design of a crystallization apparatus.
The continuous development of sample environment in WP7 has always been a key issue for present and future impact of neutron scattering in science. The version 1 of the Sample Environment Communication Protocol (SECoP) is now publicly available. Cryostats and furnaces are now 3x to 5x faster whilst producing up to 3x less background. Muon instruments can now perform experiments at 50% higher pressures on larger samples and neutron scattering clamp cells are going to follow the same route. NMR experiments combined with neutron scattering are now possible and muonium chemistry is becoming reality.
WP8 (Instrumentation – e-tools) demonstrated an impressive efficiency gain in simulating complex instrumental setups, including sample and background considerations. To this end the common data format MCPL has been optimized, allowing now flexible switching between different MC software tools. Another key activity in WP8 was the development and assessment of novel materials for instrument shielding. Finally, new concepts for Larmor labelling using compact instrument have been studied.
WP9 – Detectors: The development of a range of different detector technologies for high rate high resolution neutron scattering applications has continued, together with the development of a high rate detector technology for muon spectroscopy. As examples LIP has realised a fivefold increase in the neutron detection efficiency of its resistive plate technology, while the ILL has achieved two-dimensional position resolution using a novel cathode layout in its Microstrip Gas Chamber.
WP 10 (Data Treatment) has set the standards for future software development at neutron facilities, providing user software, which will be maintainable, sustainable, extensible and reliable. The software packages SasView (Small Angle neutron scattering), BornAgain (reflectometry), MuhRec (Imaging) and MANTID have continuously been developed and reached the level of 5 releases/software package/year. Continuous effort in atomic simulation tools for muons and neutrons paid with e.g. the release of a library for local field calculations for muons (MUESR), improved stability and sustainability for MDANSE (neutron spectra from molecular dynamics calculations).
The tasks of all work packages have clearly defined objectives, with an impact beyond the time horizon of the SINE2020 project. Whilst preparing and reinforcing the European community for the scientific opportunities to be provided by the ESS, this project also develops the potential of existing large-scale facilities beyond 2020. The benefits of the technical improvements and training opportunities proposed will impact on the quality of the experiments and subsequent publications. The commitment of all the partners to their tasks demonstrates the renewed and long-term capacity for innovation inherent to the neutron sector and its capacity to adapt to today’s societal challenges. Especially,
• The e-neutron, and DEUNET platforms play an important role in terms of outreach and sustainability of results obtained through the cooperation of our partners.
• Our industrial liaison officers have elaborated with support of the external Industrial Advisory Board a strategy for attracting industrial partners to large scale facilities (M46).
• The synthesis of deuterated, biologically relevant, unsaturated lipid membranes, for investigations into the functionality of cell membranes and membrane proteins, provides avenues for research into health and disease (D5.9 D5.10)
• Large crystal growth work will remain a priority for neutron protein crystallography. Efforts to initiate large crystal growth in microgravity conditions are being investigated with a view to ESA engagement.
• Innovations on the neutron sample environment enhances the efficiency of specific components, such as furnaces with cooling rates superior by a factor of 5, increasing sample through-put on the instruments and reducing costly instrument down-time caused by sample manipulation (D7.9 D7.22).
• The e-neutron, and DEUNET platforms play an important role in terms of outreach and sustainability of results obtained through the cooperation of our partners.
• Our industrial liaison officers have elaborated with support of the external Industrial Advisory Board a strategy for attracting industrial partners to large scale facilities (M46).
• The synthesis of deuterated, biologically relevant, unsaturated lipid membranes, for investigations into the functionality of cell membranes and membrane proteins, provides avenues for research into health and disease (D5.9 D5.10)
• Large crystal growth work will remain a priority for neutron protein crystallography. Efforts to initiate large crystal growth in microgravity conditions are being investigated with a view to ESA engagement.
• Innovations on the neutron sample environment enhances the efficiency of specific components, such as furnaces with cooling rates superior by a factor of 5, increasing sample through-put on the instruments and reducing costly instrument down-time caused by sample manipulation (D7.9 D7.22).