The Forschungs-Neutronenquelle Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II, research reactor Munich II) is the leading German research reactor

Research reactor

Research reactors are nuclear reactors that serve primarily as a neutron source. They are also called non-power reactors, in contrast to power reactors that are used for electricity production, heat generation, or maritime propulsion.-Purpose:...

. It serves as a neutron source

Neutron source

A Neutron source is a device that emits neutrons. There is a wide variety of different sources, ranging from hand-held radioactive sources to neutron research facilities operating research reactors and spallation sources...

, and is officially named Forschungs-Neutronenquelle Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (research neutron source ...) in honor of the physicist Heinz Maier-Leibnitz

Heinz Maier-Leibnitz

Heinz Maier-Leibnitz was a German physicist. He made contributions to nuclear spectroscopy, coincidence measurement techniques, radioactive tracers for biochemistry and medicine, and neutron optics...

 who had conducted a highly successful research program at its predecessor, the FRM I.

Overview

The FRM II is located in the immediate neighbourhood of FRM I, on the research and university campus near Garching

Garching bei München

Garching bei München or Garching is a city in Bavaria, Germany near Munich. It is the home of several research institutes and university departments. It became a city on 14 September 1990.-Location:...

 (18 km north of Munich

Munich

Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...

). It is operated by Technische Universität München. Several other universities and research institutions are taking part in the scientific use.

The reactor was built by Siemens AG

Siemens AG

Siemens AG is a German multinational conglomerate company headquartered in Munich, Germany. It is the largest Europe-based electronics and electrical engineering company....

. It went critical on March 2, 2004, and reached the full power of 20 MW on August, 24. Since April 2005, it is in routine operation. The regular schedule comprises 4 reactor cycles per year, with 60 days per cycle.

Highly enriched uranium in a high-density uraniun silicide-aluminium dispersion fuel element yields an excellent ratio of neutron flux to thermal power. A liquid deuterium moderator ("cold source") gives a world-leading cold-neutron flux density.

Usage

The FRM II is optimized for neutron scattering experiments at beam tubes and neutron guides. Furthermore, there are irradiation facilities, for example to produce medically used radioisotopes (as Lu-177), and a tumour treatment facility.
The more than 25 scientific instruments are operated by different chairs of the TU München, other universities, Helmholtz Centres and Max-Planck Institutes. The Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS) of the Forschungszentrum Jülich operates its own outstation at the FRM II.
Each instrument offers 2/3 of its beam time for scientists from all over the world. 30 percent is foreseen for industrial use.