Construction and installation has been completed recently on the newest instrument at the Department of Energy's Spallation Neutron Source at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The Single-Crystal Diffractometer, also known as TOPAZ, will greatly expand the range of materials explored in chemistry, earth sciences, materials science and engineering, solid-state physics and biology. Lead instrument scientist Christina Hoffmann, Neutron Scattering Sciences Division, said TOPAZ also will be of great use in studies of therapeutics and medical compounds, such as aspirin, to help scientists better understand a material's individual effectiveness. TOPAZ, one of 13 SNS instruments now in operation or in commissioning, is funded by DOE's Office of Science.
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