Why neutrons and muons?
By harnessing the power of neutron and muon techniques, researchers can explore a vast range of scientific fields, from physics and chemistry to biology and engineering, helping to push the boundaries of knowledge and drive innovation. Addressing global challenges and making technological advances relies on a detailed understanding of material properties.
Neutrons can be used in materials characterisation to study:
Dynamics
Neutron energies are comparable to the time scales of molecular diffusion, vibrations and rotations.
Magnetism
The neutron's magnetic moment can be used to study the microscopic magnetic properties of materials.
Structure
Neutron wavelengths are comparable to the spacings of atoms and molecules.
Muons can be used in materials characterisation to study:
Dynamics within materials
Muons are sensitive to the motion of molecules, atoms, ions and electrons.
Elemental analysis
The decay of negative muons produces an X-ray fingerprint that reflects the elemental composition of the material.
Ordering of electrons
Magnets, semiconductors and superconductors are probed using the magnetic fields inside the materials.
The unique properties of neutrons and muons:
Complementarity
Neutron and muon techniques are highly complementary to each other and to other methods.
Isotopic contrast
Neutrons are sensitive to different isotopes of the same element, so isotopic substitution can be used to highlight specific structural features.
Non-destructive
Both neutrons and muons are non-destructive probes suitable for characterising delicate and precious samples.
Penetration power
Neutrons and muons can penetrate samples, even when contained within complex sample environments.
Sensitivity to light elements
The neutron scattering power of nuclei varies randomly such that lighter atoms (e.g. H, Li) can be studied in the presence of heavier ones.
Versatile sample environments
Sophisticated sample environments enable neutron and muon measurements under realistic operating conditions - including extreme temperatures and pressures.
Science focus areas
The research conducted at ISIS plays an important role in addressing global challenges, answering fundamental questions, and delivering scientific and socio-economic impact. Hundreds of experiments are performed every year at ISIS by industrial and academic researchers from around the world, in diverse science areas such as clean energy, advanced manufacturing, quantum computing, healthcare, agriculture and archaeology.
Among the important and pioneering work carried out at ISIS was the discovery of the structure of high-temperature superconductors and the solid phase of buckminsterfullerene. More recently there has been a growth in experiments relating to clean energy, such as batteries, and health and life sciences, such as bacterial membranes and lipid nanoparticles. Other recent scientific highlights can be found below. You can also read our article mapping ISIS science to the Modern Industrial Strategy.
If you are interested in using ISIS, but unsure about which technique or instrument is best suited to your work, take a look at the pages below, grouping our activities around four broad focus areas: Energy and clean growth, Life sciences and healthcare, Advanced manufacturing and materials, and Quantum matter. These challenge areas encompass the majority of ISIS research, but do not cover it all. We will continue to support the wide, diverse science programme we have always supported and so, if your science area is not listed, please use the search box to find the appropriate ISIS scientist or instrument.
Energy and clean growth
Research into harnessing different forms of energy and increasing the productivity with which resources are used, alongside understanding and reducing the adverse impacts of human activity on the natural world.
Advanced manufacturing and materials
Advanced manufacturing, materials and testing (AMMT) encompass cutting-edge scientific research and engineering practices aimed at revolutionising industries across the globe. These disciplines involve the development of novel materials with enhanced properties, innovative manufacturing techniques that optimise production processes, and rigorous testing methodologies to ensure product quality and performance. They are crucial for driving innovation, improving efficiency, and addressing pressing societal challenges.
Life sciences and healthcare
Any biological experiment, from single proteins to living plants, biophysics, biochemistry, and structural biology; any pharmaceutical research, as well as healthcare devices, from toothpaste to implants. This research ranges from fundamental research to research into samples that are already used today or about to be. Any increased understanding might answer the next big life science or healthcare challenge.
Quantum materials
The neutron and muon techniques at ISIS play a vital role in advancing quantum technologies by providing unique and complementary insights into atomic and magnetic structure and dynamics of materials and devices. The result of this work is a better fundamental understand of quantum materials and their properties.
In addition to the instruments, ISIS advances the state of quantum materials research through developments in scientific software, sample environment, neutron instrument technologies and materials characterization.
Techniques
The instruments available at ISIS facilitate a range of techniques, each with different merits.