• 6/7/2011

The Neutron Source in Garching:

Open for Scientists and Visitors

The strongest neutron source in Germany is in Garching: The Heinz Maier Leibnitz (FRM II) Neutron Source for Research Activities. Some 1,000 scientists gather yearly in Lichtenbergstraße 1. They successfully applied for measurement time with the 26 scientific instruments, operated by three Helmholtz Centers, the Max Planck Society, TUM and nine other universities.

The Heinz Maier Leibnitz Neutron Source for Research Activities building
The strongest neutron source in Germany is in Garching: The Heinz Maier Leibnitz (FRM II) Neutron Source for Research Activities. (Photo: Astrid Eckert/Andreas Heddergott)

Students are very welcome to tour the facility. The FRM II is a service institution that provides neutron beams for, e.g., the exploration of the inner life of a battery or the characterization of a new high-temperature superconductor. Students can also learn about the method of neutron scattering through internships and theses.

At the research neutron source, security holds first place importance alongside scientific excellence. The reactor pool with its 700 cubic meters of water alone could ensure the cooling of the single fuel element. In addition, there are three emergency cooling pumps, which are powered by battery systems independent of the external power supply. The 1.80 meter thick shell can withstand the crash of a military or passenger aircraft.

3,000 guests each year

Each year, about 3,000 non-scientific guests visit the FRM II. On a roughly 2-hour tour, you can look into the reactor pool and marvel at the scientific equipment and experiments in the neutron guide hall. Thereby, you can learn what lies behind the name "TOFTOF" and why the FRM II can supply almost half of all nuclear physicians in Europe with an important diagnostic medicine.

Technical University of Munich

Corporate Communications Center

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