Update on the reactor operation
In December last year, the Budapest Research Reactor was granted a further 10-year extension of operating license, however, the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority imposed certain conditions to be met by the end of 2025. One of the major tasks is a partial reconstruction of the main building and some components of the reactor infrastructure. Additionally, in order to maintain staffing levels within the reactor operations team, our research centre has recently hired 6 new members for the reactor staff. During the training period of the new team members and the on-going reconstruction works, the reactor is not expected to be available for user measurements for the rest of 2024. The next call for beam-time applications for external users is scheduled for spring 2025. The exact deadline will be posted on our website, social media and e-mail list as soon as it is available.
Applying for beamtime
The Budapest Neutron Centre runs a regular, open-access, international user programme that involves 16 neutron instruments and a few related service laboratories. You can apply for beamtime at the BNC on the listed user programme instruments. These science proposal calls are announced on the BNC website and social media pages, and via mailing lists. To apply for beamtime, the BNC research proposal form has to be submitted electronically via e-mail to the BNC User Office.
Calls are announced typically twice in a year, with deadlines on 15th April and on 15th October. The submitted proposals are refereed by the International User Selection Panel of the BNC. The User Office negotiates the dates for the experiment with the principal investigator (PI). All BNC proposals remain valid until their regular expiration date of one year. Expired proposals may be resubmitted and will be refereed again.