ISIS is the world’s most successful pulsed spallation neutron source. The facility provides beams of neutrons and muons that enable scientists to probe the microscopic structure and dynamics of matter. The benefits of neutron scattering coupled with the strengths of the ISIS pulsed source have been responsible for the emergence of a world-class research programme at the facility, covering topics at the forefront of Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, Earth Science, Engineering and Biology. Examples of ISIS science are presented in this section.
Articles
 | Muonium and hydrogen centres in sulphurMuon level-crossing resonance and supercell calculations show how ion-implanted muons and protons create molecular radicals that can switch conformation on subnanosecond timescales and initiate polysulphide generation. Also in this section: |
Science with Neutrons and Muons
More new materials have been made in the last 20 years than in the rest of history. ISIS provides scientists with unique views of these materials.
From the structure of small molecules to the shape of large molecular machines and technologies to develop drugs for controlling disease. Biological Science at ISIS covers a huge area.
Neutron scattering at ISIS gives a unique insight into the geological processes of the Earth's surface and core, and is also being used to answer current questions about the Earth's natural environment.
New materials for energy production and storage are essential for a clean energy future. ISIS makes this materials research and discovery possible.
The neutron diffraction instruments at ISIS (such as Gem, Polaris, Ines, Engin-x) can measure the crystal structure, non-destructively, right through an intact archaeological artefact or art object.
ISIS neutrons are used to probe the stresses and material properties deep inside engineering components and materials.
From ancient artifacts to future technologies; atomic scales to astrophysics, physics at ISIS covers a diverse range of science.
Soft matter encompasses a wide range of substances including polymers, surfactants (including detergents), liquid crystals, micelles (clumps of polar molecules), and microemulsions. All of these share the same basi properties – weak interactions between structural units and large numbers of ways to arrange themselves internally. And when they are touched, they actually feel soft.
Science at ISIS
To continue to be a world leading facility, the ISIS accelerator and targets are maintained and developed by teams of dedicated scientists and engineers.
The high-energy beams of the ISIS accelerators produce intense pulses of neutrons. Neutrons are uncharged constituents of atoms and penetrate materials well, deflecting only from the nuclei of atoms.
See how neutrons and muons are produced in an animated overview.
Neutron & Muon techniques
Small angle neutron scattering is a neutron technique able to probe structures at length scales from around 1 nanometre to more than 100 nanometres. It has a wide range of applications from studies of polymers and biological molecules to nanoparticles to microemulsions and liposomes used for cosmetics and drug delivery.
Muons provide a complementary probe to neutrons, particularly in the areas of magnetism, superconductivity and charge transport.
