Message from the Director

The Neutron Science Center of the Comprehensive Research Organization of Science and Society (CROSS) is an organization selected as a registered institution promoting use of facilities by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The center promotes the use of the Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility (J-PARC MLF), the specified neutron beam facility. Following the second phase which started in 2016, we launched the third phase last April with the following five goals.

1. to acquire new users and expand into new application fields by promoting inter-organizational collaboration,
2. effective use of the 1 MW high-intensity neutron beam and improvement of beamtime utilization efficiency,
3. introduction of new performance indicators and rapid dissemination of outstanding results,
4. to become a world-class quantum beam facility, bringing researchers from around the world to the facility, and
5. to foster human resources who will contribute to the development of neutron science.

In FY2023, CROSS established a new “Neutron Industrial Application Center” and started operation, maintenance, and user support of two Ibaraki Prefecture beamlines (BLs), iBIX and iMATERIA. The CROSS Neutron Science Center is now in charge of 9 beamlines, nearly half of the 21 beamlines currently operated at MLF. While a great synergistic effect is expected between the Public BLs and the Prefectural BLs (Contract BLs), the roles and responsibilities of CROSS at MLF have become even greater than before.

In FY2024, we aim to realize the Quantum Beam Gateway concept (enhancement of one-stop service function) by expanding and developing J-JOIN (J-Joint Office for Innovation), the common neutron utilization platform between J-PARC MLF and JRR-3, to include synchrotron radiation. J-JOIN (J-Joint Office for Innovation), a neutron utilization platform, to synchrotron radiation.

Through these activities, the CROSS Neutron Science Center will play a role in the MLF, a world-class quantum beam facility. We appreciate the understanding and support of our users, the community, and the general public.