Speaker
Description
This lecture reviews the evolution of neutron sources from early fission reactors to present-day accelerator-based spallation facilities. The physical principles of neutron production, moderation, and detection are introduced, together with the technological developments that have led to the current generation of high-brightness sources. The characteristics and performance of major facilities—ILL, SINQ, SNS, J-PARC, CSNS, and the European Spallation Source (ESS)—are compared, illustrating progress in target design, moderation concepts, and accelerator capability. Particular emphasis is placed on the ESS, a 5 MW, 2 GeV superconducting proton linac coupled to a rotating tungsten target, designed to deliver the highest long-pulse neutron brightness worldwide. Applications ranging from condensed matter and life sciences to energy research, cultural heritage, and fundamental physics are discussed.