Intense Pulsed Neutron Source Click for a larger image

Welcome From the Director

We welcome you to Argonne’s Intense Pulsed Neutron Source (IPNS)*. As a scientist aiming to do a neutron scattering experiment at IPNS or as a casual visitor, we are happy to have you browse our web site and would cordially receive your visit to our facility.

Commissioned in 1981, IPNS has operated continuously since startup and has the distinction of achieving many “firsts” in neutron scattering. Virtually all 1st generation time-of-flight instrumentation was developed at IPNS and IPNS was the first DOE facility dedicated to users.

IPNS hosts about 250 users each year from all over the world, performing about 400 experiments during our running periods, which average 26 weeks/year. If you are interested in performing some work at IPNS click here to access a downloadable proposal form. 75% of the facility’s time is available to outside users and you don’t have to be an expert in neutron scattering to use our facilities. Novices to neutron scattering are welcome too! Should you need data for one or two samples quickly, we provide fast access proposals for some of our instruments, click here for a list of those fast access instruments. Contact our instrument scientists for answers to questions about the details of any instrument, click here for a list of instrument contacts.

Click here to find an explanation of how IPNS generates neutrons and click here to survey our instrumental capabilities and to see what kinds of scientific experiments are performed here.

Click here to view our mission statement.

*The Intense Pulsed Neutron Source (IPNS) at Argonne National Laboratory is a national facility for neutron scattering research. IPNS is operated by the University of Chicago for the United States Department of Energy. It is available to outside users through the submission of research proposals. Proposals are reviewed semiannually by a Program Advisory Committee. IPNS has been in operation since 1981.