Research neutron reactor PIK, which construction started about 30 years ago near St. Petersburg, will possible start working in the end of January 2010.
      
      High-flux beam reactor PIK will become a unique source of neutrons with ultrahigh intensity. Neutron density in the unit will reach 10¹⁵ particles per second per square centimeter, and so-called central channel will be 5 times more powerful. Only three reactors in the world have such a high neutron density.
      
      The PIK reactor will serve as an X-ray machine with neutrons going through various materials, but deeper and more thorough than ordinary X-rays. Moreover, neutron flow will “look through” materials, which are not transparent for X-rays, hydrogen, for instance. This useful feature will allow studying polymers and biological molecules.
      
      The reactor will host 50 units, which means facilities for 50 research groups, promising good prospects for scientific cooperation.
      
      Source: RIA Novosti