Common menu bar links
NRC CNBC: Large-Scale Scientific Infrastructure
The NRC Canadian Neutron Beam Centre (CNBC) enables researchers to use neutron beams as tools for world-class materials research, which provides new understandings of materials and improves products for businesses.
Each year, over 200 scientists, engineers, and students from universities, government labs and industry participate in research that depends on access to its six neutron beamlines. Over a typical five-year period, the CNBC's research participants include more than 700 individuals from over 60 departments at about 30 Canadian universities and from over 100 foreign institutions in over 20 countries. The CNBC enables industrial research in sectors such as nuclear energy, aerospace, automotive, oil and gas, defence, and primary metal production. The CNBC typically provides more than 85% of its neutron beam time to the user community.
CNBC's User Community: The breadth of the user community is represented by these universities and countries whose researchers have used the CNBC in recent years.
NRC helps clients effectively exploit large-scale scientific infrastructure. As a part of this NRC business line, the CNBC leads and enables Canada’s neutron beam competency by developing innovative neutron beam instruments and methods, performing in-house research, training students and ensuring access to our facilities by a wide range of users and clients. The CNBC is Canada’s contribution to the global network of about twenty neutron beam laboratories that leverages international collaborations and facilitates the exchange of people and knowledge. In addition to enabling research, each element of Canada’s large-scale science infrastructure, including the CNBC, is a stimulating platform for science outreach to foster a national culture of innovation.
The CNBC is located at Chalk River Laboratories, where Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) owns and operates the National Research Universal (NRU) reactor. The NRU reactor is a multi-purpose research reactor that supports science and industry in three areas simultaneously:
- It is Canada’s only major neutron source, supplying neutrons for the CNBC.
- It is Canada’s only major materials testing reactor, supporting nuclear energy research and development.
- It is the largest global producer of medical radioisotopes.
