BRISP: A new thermal-neutron spectrometer for small-angle studies of disordered matter

We describe the main technical features of the novel thermal neutron small-angle time-of-flight spectrometer BRISP, which recently entered its commissioning phase at the High-Flux Reactor of the Institut Laue-Langevin in Grenoble (France). The state of art of the spectrometer development is described, and results of the first important calibration tests, such as the determination of the instrumental energy resolution, are reported. A general outline of possible future scientific topics to be addressed by the instrument is finally presented. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.