ISIS MuSR Science Highlights

MuSR Science Highlights

Our Science Highlight articles cover the diverse research that takes place at our facility. Read all our Science Highlight articles using MuSR below:

Quantum spin liquid found in a strongly correlated metallic magnet
Using neutrons and muons, researchers have discovered a quantum critical spin-liquid state in a Ce-based heavy fermion compound for the first time.
Combining techniques to explore a curious quantum ground state
By using muon spectroscopy, inelastic neutron scattering and other techniques, researchers have been able to characterise the quantum ground state of a perovskite material.
Investigating the origins of unconventional superconductivity
Muons are ideal probes for studying unconventional superconducting materials, demonstrated by two recent publications studying the origins of time reversal symmetry breaking.
Rare coupling of electronic and lattice degrees of freedom observed
Using multiple techniques, an international research collaboration has found evidence of coupling between electronic and lattice degrees of freedom: a very rare phenomenon
Understanding Topological Insulators to Build the Next Generation of Electronics
Using MuSR, Professor Patnaik from Jawaharlal Nehru University, cracked how to study fundamental properties of topological superconductors.
Researchers develop algorithm to see inside materials with subatomic particles
The first ever study to look at muon spectroscopy using machine learning.
Finding a quantum spin liquid in a distorted honeycomb
A group of researchers used the MuSR, MERLIN and WISH instruments, along with theoretical modeling, to investigate the unconventional magnetism in a honeycomb oxide material.
Insights into Chiral Superconductors
Topological superconductors (SCs) are novel phases of matter, potentially useful in fault-tolerant quantum computation.
Random model realised in quantum material
For the first time, researchers have observed experimentally a randomly ordered quantum magnetic phase.
Could rotating molecules be the key to designing Quantum Spin Liquids?
Researchers have discovered a new way of designing quantum spin liquids; exotic materials that may impact on areas as diverse as IT and superconductivity
Characterising a quantum spin liquid candidate
Using MuSR, the magnetic behaviour of Zn-barlowite has been characterised, highlighting its potential as a quantum spin liquid.
Muons show weak magnetism in a high capacitance, low loss dielectric material
Decoding decoherence
Quantum information leaks away from a muon implanted in a fluoride crystal
Muons for understanding ion diffusion in energy materials
The ability of ions to move within a material is crucial to the performance of next-generation energy devices such as batteries and fuel cells, and muons offer a method to study this movement.
Studying unconventional superconductors using muons
A recent review paper looks at unconventional superconductors that spontaneously break time-reversal symmetry, an extremely unusual and rare phenomenon, and highlights the importance of muon spectroscopy in measuring such materials.
Insight into the impact of iodide ion movement in solar cells
Muon experiments have helped researchers study the movement of iodide ions within a new family of solar cell materials; reducing this movement could improve the efficiency of the devices.
Thinking outside the triangle: Quantum Spin Liquid formed in an unexpected way
A team of researchers from the University of Liverpool and McMaster University observed unusual magnetic behaviour in the perovskite-related metal oxide TbInO3 using HRPD, MuSR and EMU at ISIS.
Solving a tantalising Tantalum mystery
A team of Slovenian researchers undertook muon-spin-relaxation measurements to probe an exotic quantum state.
Molecules make the perfect filling for a superconducting sandwich
Since the discovery in 2008 of superconducting materials based on iron there has been intense research into how their superconducting critical temperature can be increased.
Quantum mapmakers complete first voyage through spin liquid
Scientists from two of Oxfordshire’s leading research centres have completed the painstaking and careful mapping of the features of one of the most exotic states of matter in the universe found close to absolute zero in a particular example of a chemicall
Good chemistry between magnetism and superconductivity
Scientists from Spain and the United Kingdom have recently used ISIS muons to demonstrate the success of a new method for combining materials with different properties.
Strongly correlated alkali fullerides
Alkali-doped fullerides are the simplest type of high-Tc superconductors.
Magnetricity
The transport of electrically charged quasiparticles (based on electrons, holes or ions) plays a pivotal role in modern technology as well as determining the essential function of biological organisms.
Frustrated magnetism in superconducting fullerides
Researchers from the universities of Liverpool and Durham have used ISIS muons as part of a study published in this week’s Nature.
‘Magnetricity’ measured for the first time at ISIS
A magnetic charge can behave and interact just like an electric charge in some materials, according to new research conducted at ISIS and which could lead to a reassessment of current magnetism theories, as well as significant technological advances.
Magnetic order in copper pyrazine dinitrate
Low dimensional magnetism is a fascinating experimental testing ground for fundamental many body quantum physics.
A new candidate for spin liquid physics
In most common magnetic ground states, the moments of atoms in crystals order because of interactions with their neighbours.