DIFFRACTOMETER FOR NEUTRON CRYSTALLOGRAPHY IN BIOLOGY

We have constructed a dedicated diffractometer for neutron crystallogr aphy in biology (BIX) at JRR-3M in Japan Atomic Energy Research Instit ute. The diffraction intensity from a protein crystal is weaker than t hat from most of the inorganic materials. In order to overcome the int ensity problem, an elastically bent silicon monochromator and a large area detector system have been specially designed. A preliminary resul t of a diffraction experiment using BIX is reported.