The report assesses how upcoming changes in Europe's neutron research infrastructure landscape could impact the UK scientific community, and makes recommendations for how potentially damaging impacts could be mitigated.
The UK’s neutron user community, one of the largest and most active in Europe, has, to-date, primarily relied on two facilities: the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source (ISIS) in Oxfordshire, and the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) in Grenoble, France. However, the European neutron research landscape is set to change significantly. Under the 6th Protocol, the governments of the UK, France and Germany have committed to closing ILL by 2033, while the European Spallation Source (ESS) in Sweden is expected to begin operating its first phase of 15 instruments between 2027 and 2034.
Given these developments, ensuring that the research community has continued access to internationally competitive neutron research facilities remains a key priority. Commissioned by STFC, the 2024 Neutron Review examines the potential impact of these changes on UK researchers, in terms of capacity (beam time availability) and capability (the range of specialised instruments available for use). It also evaluates the current and future roles of ISIS, ILL and ESS in addressing scientific challenges that rely on neutron facilities, and explores strategies to secure long-term neutron beam access for UK scientists and science programmes.
