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Sample Environment Systems for Fluids Including Gases, Liquids and Complex Fluids (FLUCO)

laser pump probe tartu

The FLUCO platform will provide sample environment for fluids (including gases, vapour and complex fluids) in neutron scattering experiments in soft matter and life science at ESS.

Fluid samples can come in many forms and phases, and controlling and manipulating the sample is at the heart of most neutron scattering experiments. We are developing sample environment systems to enable experiments on a broad range of samples and with extensive parameter control.

Possible samples we anticipate include the following:

  • Polymers, melts/solutions
  • Liquid crystals
  • Gels
  • Colloids, colloidal suspensions
  • Elastomers
  • Tensides, microemulsions
  • Membranes, semipermeable membranes (such as biological and fuel-cell membranes)
  • Liquids, mixtures
  • Biological matter (including lipids and proteins)
  • Fuel cells, batteries
  • Amorphous matter (including foams and aerogels)

Parameters we anticipate will be of interest include the following:

  • Temperature, spanning the approximate range of 223K - 473K
  • Relative humidity, using H2O, D2O or slovents, including organic solvents
  • Physical forces, including shear, torque, and stretch
  • Viscosity, including dynamic and kinematic, and fluidity
  • Friction
  • Small magnetic fields, up to 1T. For high magnetic fields, please see the Temperatures and Fields(link is external) platform
  • Electrical properties, including potentiostat measurements

Engineering Materials, Geosciences, Archeology & Heritage Conservation

In situ, in operando and non-destructive probing with neutrons.

Chemistry of Materials, Magnetic & Electronic Phenomena

Some of the most exciting discoveries in a generation are being made with neutron science.

Life Science & Soft Condensed Matter

ESS will enable some areas of life science, medical and pharmacological research to investigate with neutrons for the first time.

Particle Physics

A fundamental part of ESS. The Standard Model is not what it used to be.

Part of the laser pump-probe system developed at Tartu University. The sample is a purple photosynthetic bacterium. (Tartu University)