Five years operation of the second generation backscattering spectrometer IN16 - a retrospective, recent developments and plans

IN16 is the first backscattering spectrometer of the second generation: it uses focusing optics and a deflection chopper, allowing for the first time for a perfect backscattering condition at the monochromator side. The high flux of the instrument, combined with a Gaussian resolution function, made the instrument a success. We summarise the technical design, experiments ca rried out over the 5 yr of operation, recent developments and plans for imp roving both the neutron flux and the dynamic range in the future. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.