Recent enhancements and performance gains from upgrades to ANSTO's thermal neutron instrument TAIPAN and the triple-axis and Be-filter spectrometers

TAIPAN has recently undergone some significant upgrades to improve the accessible momentum and energy range of both the TAS and the Be-filter spectrometers. Four key features have been modified to improve performance: the accessible momentum transfer has been increased by re-designing the enclosure and expanding the available instrument range of motion (section A); a new sapphire-filter translation-stage mechanism (Section B) has been installed to allow epithermal neutrons to pass to the two monochromators; a new Cu-200 double-focussing monochromator has been installed to allow monochromatic selection of neutrons up to 180 meV (Section C); and finally a new tertiary shutter and snout (Section D) have been designed to improve the signal-to-noise ratio and reduced background outside the instrument enclosure. Extensive testing and alignment of all new motion stages were undertaken with reproducibility within ±0.05 degrees or ±0.25 mm obtained for both the monochromator rotation angle & sapphire-filter translation.