THE SERVER OF THE EUROPEAN NEUTRON PORTAL IS NOW HOSTED AT FORSCHUNGSZENTRUM JUELICH (19/07/2010)
The server of the European Neutron Portal is now hosted at Forschungszentrum Jülich. After almost seven years at an independent company, the "Scientific IT Systems Team" of the Institute of Solid State Research, Dorothea Henkel and Josef Heinen, transfered successfully all the postscripts, data bases, almost 1000 tables, more than 5000 images and files and hundreds of pages with information on muon and neutrons. We are now at home in one of the 23 NMI3 partner centers. In the name of the European neutron user community the NMI3 management team would like to congratulate everybody in Jülich who has contributed to this smooth change-over of the servers. We express our gratitud to Max Belushkin, the developer of our administrative system, who provided unconditional support and kept the system up and running uninterrupted during the last 7 years of life of the "one stop shop’ for information regarding neutron scattering and muon spectroscopy.
THE HEADS OF THE EUROPEAN FACILITIES MET IN GEESTHACHT (14/07/2010)
The heads of the European Neutron Facilities met in Geesthacht, near Hamburg, the day after the GKSS Research Reactor final shut down ceremony.
The Geesthacht reactor operated for nearly 53 years and the instruments are now either going to the Dutch research reactor in Delft, to FRM II in Munich or to Dubna in Russia. Several International representatives attended the ceremony and the garden party.
The Directors’ Meeting was scheduled by the NMI3 Board in order to prepare the next European Framework proposal. The call will be released by the end of July and the deadline is foreseen for the end of November 2010.
The facility representatives voted for the topics which should be included in the coming proposal in order to give it a maximum chance to be accepted. This means of course being innovative and tackle the great challenges as far as possible.
The participants, Rozsa Baranyai (BNC), Kurt Claussen (PSI), Arsen Goukassov (CEA), Hans Graf (HZB), Andrew Harrison (ILL), Anke Kaiser-Pyzalla (HZB), Robert McGreevy (STFC), Alain Menelle (CEA), Winfried Petry (TUM), Dieter Richter (FZJ), Andreas Schreyer (GKSS), Pavel Strunz (NPI), Christian Vettier (ESS), Ad van Well (TUD) discussed the 15 Expression of Interests, which were handed in prior to the meeting.
GKSS Research Reactor final shut down ceremony.
ORGANIZING A MUON OR A NEUTRON SCHOOL? APPLY FOR FUNDING NOW! (02/06/2010)
FOURTH NMI3 FP7 CALL FOR PROPOSALS OPEN
NMI3, the Integrated Infrastructure Initiative for Neutron Scattering and Muon Spectroscopy is again offering the possibility to apply for funding provided by the European Commission, to organize training activities that relate to spreading the use of neutron scattering or muon spectroscopy.
This call for proposals is the fourth call under FP7 and relates to applications covering the period from Dec 2010 – June 2011.
Funding for proposals is now limited within Framework Programme 7. Therefore we are only supporting Schools in this call, and not Workshops as well. Schools are events which are aimed at providing training to researchers new to a particular technique or science area, and this will need to be the main aim of the activities supported in this call. If you are planning a School which involves neutron scattering or muon spectroscopy in a significant way, then you are welcome to submit your proposal until the 12 July 2010.
The next Call for Proposals, for events to be held from June 2011 to January 2012, will be announced in January 2011.
Pictures of the JCNS Laboratory Course - Neutron Scattering 2009 - Courtesy of Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS). (Photographers: Wenzel Schürmann, Ramona Bucher, Christine Sturz, FRM II)
NMI3 SUPPORTING YOUNG PHD STUDENT TO ATTEND INTERNATIONAL EVENT (11/05/2010)
NMI3 financed graduate student to attend the Materials Research Society - (MRS Symposium W): Diagnostics and Characterization of Energy Materials with Synchrotron and Neutron Radiation, in San Francisco (USA) from 5 to 9 of April. The symposium provided the platform for materials researchers working on energy conversion and storage materials and devices, and researchers who study such systems at large-scale facilities.
4 Ph students were supported by NMI3 to attend this important meeting in San Francisco. The report of two of the students, working at ETH Zürich-Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, show the relevance of this action.
Chen Qiali says:
...there I learned the applications of neutrons in the materials research of solid oxide fuel cells, hydrogen storage, solar cells, etc
... It was very precious experience at the beginning of my professional carrier.
Selma Erat says:
...I was very happy to be able to join to the meeting.
... Probably, without this support I was not able to join to MRS 2010.
RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURES: AT THE HEART OF THE EUROPEAN RESEARCH AREA, NEW BROCHURE EDITED BY THE I3-NET. (23/04/2010)
Research infrastructures: at the heart of the European Research Area, new brochure edited by the I3-NET.
A brochure to promote the research done by research infrastructures for energy, for imaging, for the Earth, for the people, for space, for food.
"Research Infrastructures affect many aspects of our daily and future lives – from our health to our iPods, from our security to our appreciation of the wonders (and dangers) of the universe.The examples in this brochure provide just a tiny window onto their diversity and impacts."
What is a ‘research infrastructure’? We have probably all been to one – we have just never recognised it.
…and why do we need them?
... How safe is toxic waste in a glass cage?
... Are you as healthy as you feel?
In the brochure you will find the answer to theses questions and 15 more examples carried out during the I3 projects of the European Commission.
NMi3 is a member of I3Net. There are more than 20 Integrated Infrastructure Initiatives (I3's), each with similar problems, challenges and issues. I3net aims to be a collective with a unique voice to communicate with the EC.
NMI3 28000 EUROS FOR TRAINING ACTIVITIES (23/04/2010)
The Evaluation team analyzed the 9 proposals (6 Schools and 3 Workshops) submitted to the third NMI3 call for funding provided by the European Commission, to organize training activities that relate to spreading the use of neutron scattering or muon spectroscopy.
It was finally decided to distribute the 28K Euros available for this round to the proposed neutron schools. Future neutron users will meet in May in Budapest, in June in The Netherlands, in July in Spain, in August in Switzerland and in September in Germany and Italy, to learn about neutron scattering techniques and instrumentation through lectures and hands on experiments.
NMI3, the Integrated Infrastructure Initiative for Neutron Scattering and Muon Spectroscopy, has been supporting prestigious school neutron schools and workshops since 2004. The next Call for Proposals, for events to be held from January 2011 to June 2011, will be announced in June 2010.
These are the schools supported by NMI3:
• 9th PSI Summer School on Condensed Matter Research: Magnetic Phenomena,, Lyceum Alpinum, Zuoz and Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland, 7 -16 August 2010.
• PNCMI2010 polarized neutron school Reactor Institute Delft, Delft, the Netherlands, 28 June - 2 July 2010.
• 14th Laboratory Course Neutron Scattering Juelich and Garching/Munich, Germany, 6-17 September 2010.
• X School of Neutron Scattering Francesco Paolo Ricci: ElectronVolt Neutron spectroscopy of materials: microscopic dynamics and enabling techniques - Villa Mondragone Monte Porzio Catone, Rome – Italy, 25 September - 4 October 2010.
• 5th Central European Training School on Neutron Scattering - Budapest, Hungary, 31 May - 04 June, 2010
• The Power of Neutron Techniques in Nano and Biosciences - Jaca (Huesca), Spain, 12 - 16 July 2010
DIRECTORS of ALL MAJOR NEUTRON FACILITIES GATHERED IN ILL (22/03/2010)
The Helium-3 Supply Crisis Alternative Techniques to Helium-3 based Detectors for Neutron Scattering Applications
The Institut Laue-Langevin in Grenoble, France invited the Directors of all the major neutron facilities in Europe, the US, Australia, Japan, and China to meet and discuss how to find solutions to such global problems as new detectors without helium-3, common software platforms for data reduction, and data policy.
At their meeting on 5 March, it was agreed to establish a joint programme with three development lines to create alternative technologies for neutron detectors.
Helium-3 has been indispensable for many decades for the construction of high-efficiency detectors for neutron scattering research into condensed matter. Helium-3 is a by-product of tritium decay after 12 years. However, as a consequence of the encouraging reduction in stocks of tritium for military purposes, the production of helium-3 has drastically decreased in recent years. At the same time the demand for helium-3 for a range of applications, including new instruments at existing and emerging neutron scattering facilities worldwide, has dramatically increased.
This meeting represents an important step forward in securing the future development of novel neutron instruments which require large area detectors but will no longer be able to use helium-3. It also underlines the value of a regular meeting between Directors of major neutron facilities, inaugurated during the 2009 International Conference for Neutron Scattering in Knoxville, USA, and set to continue alongside future major neutron meetings.
Facility Directors meeting 5 March 2010 at ILL Copyright ILL/Serge Claisse
WANTED: OUTSTANDING YOUNG EUROPEAN SCIENTIST INVESTIGATING MATTER WITH CRYSTALLOGRAPHIC OR NEUTRON SCATTERING METHODS. (17/03/2010)
The call for nominations for the Third Erwin Felix Lewy Bertaut Prize is open until 30th April 2010.
The prize is awarded to a young European scientist (up to 5-8 years after finishing the PhD-thesis) in recognition of notable experimental theoretical or methodological contributions in the field of investigation of matter using crystallographic or neutron scattering methods
More details for the procedure and guidelines for application are available on the web-sites of ECA, the European Crystallographic Association and ENSA, the European Neutron Scattering Association:The Lewy Bertaut Prize
We asked Goetz Eckold - the chairman of the Committee Research with Neutrons (KFN) and one of the members of the SNI2010 Programm Committee, to give his impression of the conference.
... SNI2010 has been a great success, there were more than 600 contributions...
... a well organized conference that has give a great opportunity to exchange ideas and research results...
... important because my impression is that a huge number of young scientist ...
... a clear demonstration of the power of research with large facilities Read here the Interview!
We were there and we took some pictures for you. Take a look to the video and get an impression of the Conference.
WHAT DO NEUTRONS HAVE TO DO WITH FOOD? 02/02/2010
The application of neutron scattering to food-based systems has significant potential to food structure and to the complex relationship between food processing, structure, rheology, nutrition and food quality.
To identify the future scientific needs in the application of neutron scattering to Food Science a Foresight Study will be held next year. The study is a collaboration between ANSTO, AINSE, ORNL and NMI3. The findings will help neutron facilities to further adapt their infrastructure to the requirements of the wider scientific community and enable potential users to develop collaborations with neutron scattering researchers.
Protein structure, polymers for food packaging, emulsions, lipid metabolism/digestion, flow behaviour ... are examples of food science studies with neutrons.
Why neutron scattering? To investigate the properties and their effects on the final characteristics of the food product, it is of outmost importance to maintain the environment as close as possible to the original conditions. In this sense, neutron scattering possesses particularly attractive attributes...
Read more in the article:
Neutron scattering: A natural tool for food science and technology research - Amparo Lopez-Rubio and Elliot Paul Gilbert.
Trends in Food Science & Technology xx (2009) 1e11 - Elsevier
The Website of the Workshop is up now whit all the necessary information to organize your attendance at this interesting event. Have a look now!
Abstract submission closes 30th, April
ONCE AGAIN MONEY FOR NEUTRON AND MUON TRAINING ACTIVITIES! (13/01/2010)
THIRD NMI3 CALL for PROPOSALS UNDER FP7
NMI3, the Integrated Infrastructure Initiative for Neutron Scattering and Muon Spectroscopy is again offering the possibility to apply for funding provided by the European Commission, to organize training activities that relate to spreading the use of neutron scattering or muon spectroscopy.
You are welcomed to submit your proposal until the 19th February 2010.
Support:
• Schools on neutron scattering and/or muon spectroscopy.
• Workshops to improve neutron and muon techniques and methods.
Please note that, due to the more limited funds that are available to the NMI3 in FP7, we are strongly preferring to support schools on neutron scattering or muon spectroscopy which are designed to train researchers in the use of neutrons and muons. Workshops on science or instrumentation topics related to neutrons and muons are only being supported if there are funds remaining after support for schools has been allocated.
This call for proposals is the third call under FP7 and relates to applications covering the period from June 2010 – January 2011
The next Call for Proposals, for events to be held from January 2011 to June 2011, will be announced in June 2010.
Applications are now welcome for the ISIS Muon Training School. This School will happen from 23-28 May 2010. The deadline for applications is 26 February 2010.
The School is suitable for post-graduate or post-doctoral workers who will be using muons for a significant amount of their research. It will consist of lectures in the principles and applications of the muon technique, together with the chance to perform two experiments on ISIS muon instruments.
The ISIS Pulsed Source, at the STFC’s Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL), is home to the world’s most intense beam of pulsed muons for condensed matter investigations.
The School is part-funded by NMI3, through the Networking activity.
Further details, including how to apply, can be found on the ISIS Website
The European Neutron Portal has been informing the neutron and muon community since its foundation in 2003. Seven years of news! We will keep pushing that forward to keep you updated on the latest news regarding neutrons and muons.
Take a glance at the video, a collection of highlights of the year 2009!
and if you want to know more visit our News section
NEW CALL FOR THE MARIE CURIE INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH STAFF EXCHANGE SCHEME (23/12/2009)
Marie Curie International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES)
The European Commission has published a new call for the Marie Curie International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES) targeting projects starting at the end of 2010.
The International Research Staff Exchange Scheme aims at strengthening research partnerships through short staff exchanges between 2 or more European research organisations and organisations from countries like Australia, Canada, NZ, USA, etc and for a period of 24-48 months. Individual staff exchanges will not exceed 12 months.
These actions have a bottom-up approach, and research fields are chosen freely by the applicants. Since the start of the program in 2008, 29 selected projects involved Australian teams.
European staff will receive a monthly subsistence allowance of €1,900, covering all mobility costs (including travel) from the European Commission
Funding for Australian staff
This Marie Curie action is not totally supported by the European Commission. Australian staff, will need to seek funding from their own institutions or/and any domestic sources.
In order to assist participating Australian research organisations, the Australian Government Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research (DIISR) provided some support to help cover these mobility costs. Funding through the International Science Linkages programme and worth $200,000 in 2009, assists such Australian research organisations for this purpose (for the call in 2008, 12 IRSESprojects involvedAustralia, 17 in 2009).
For the current call,no funding has yet been confirmed or committed.
This funding is intended to support travel and subsistence costs for a number of exchanges over the period thatIRSESis in place, and this initial level of support may be reviewed if demand is particularly high. Such funding would be available on a competitive basis and, to be eligible for consideration, Australian research organisations would need to demonstrate that they are a member of a selected partnership underIRSES.
Selection procedures are available from theAustralianAcademyof Science, which manages this contribution at: www.science.org.au/internat/irses.htm.
Application
Proposals are submitted electronically via the Commission's Electronic Proposal Submission Service (EPSS). Proposals are submitted, and are evaluated by external independent experts against a series of predetermined criteria. The lead participant or coordinator must be fromEurope.
Information from: Forum for European-Australian Science and Technology Cooperation www.feast.org
CONDENSED MATTER AND NEUTRONS CONDENSED IN A BOOK (11/11/2009)
NEUTRON SCATTERING IN CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
In this book, recently published, the most important phenomena and materials properties in condensed matter physics are described and exemplified by typical neutron scattering experiments.
The book is addressed to graduate students as well as to researchers and lecturers who wants to learn about neutrons and condensed matter physics.
... an introduction to the basic principles and instrumental aspects of neutron scattering.
... explaining how the relevant information can be extracted from the measurements.
by Albert Furrer, Joël Mesot and Thierry Strässle (ETH Zurich & PSI Villigen, Switzerland) Other titles of this Series on Neutron Techniques and Applications: World Scientific pages
NEUTRON SPIN ECHO SPECTROMETER INAUGURATED AT THE SPALLATION NEUTRON SOURCE IN OAK RIDGE (05/11/2009)
Jülich / Oak Ridge (USA), 5 November 2009 – A unique large-scale research device from Jülich went into operation in the USA yesterday. At the strongest pulsed neutron source in the world, the spallation source SNS in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Forschungszentrum Jülich inaugurated a so-called neutron spin echo (NSE) spectrometer. The NSE spectrometer enables detailed observations to be made of the motion of proteins and polymers. It will thus help to develop improved plastics or to understand metabolic processes in cells.
From left to right: Ian Anderson (SNS Director), Jeremy Smith (SNS), Sebastian Schmidt (Board of Directors - Forschungszentrum Jülich), Beatrix Vierkorn-Rudolph (German Federal Ministry of Education and Research), Dieter Richter (IFF Director Forschungszentrum Jülich), Jost Liebich (Forschungszentrum Jülich), and Christian Joergens (German Embassy in Washington).
Picture and text courtesy of Oak Ridge National Laboratory
3rd ILL MILLENNIUM SYMPOSIUM AND EUROPEAN USER MEETING TO BE HELD IN GRENOBLE (03/11/2009)
The 3rd Millennium Symposium and European User meeting will be held from 15 to 17 September 2010 in Grenoble.
At the end of 2008, the first phase (M-0) of ILL’s modernization program was completed, delivering 6 new and 8 upgraded instruments and improved infrastructure to the benefit of ILL’s vast user community. It is timely to review what has been achieved and also to inform the user community about the status of the 2nd phase of the modernization program, which was officially launched in June 2007.
Furthermore, with a grant from the EC in the framework of the ESFRI Roadmap (European Science Forum on Research Infrastructures) the ILL already entered the planning stage for the 3rd phase (M-2, 2013-2017) of its instrument renewal program. The meeting is meant to discuss the envisaged projects and, in particular, to receive input and advice on those projects.
‘MAGNETRICITY’ OBSERVED AND MEASURED FOR THE FIRST TIME AT ISIS (02/11/2009)
A magnetic charge can behave and interact just like an electric charge in some materials, according to new research conducted at STFC’s ISIS facility and led by the London Centre for Nanotechnology (LCN) which could lead to a reassessment of current magnetism theories, as well as significant technological advances.
The research, published today in Nature, proves the existence of atom-sized ‘magnetic charges’ that behave and interact just like more familiar electric charges. It also demonstrates a perfect symmetry between electricity and magnetism – a phenomenon dubbed ‘magnetricity' by the authors from the LCN and the Science and Technology Facility Council’s ISIS Neutron and Muon Source .
In order to prove experimentally the existence of magnetic current for the first time, the team mapped Onsager's 1934 theory of the movement of ions in water onto magnetic currents in a material called spin ice. They then tested the theory by applying a magnetic field to a spin ice sample at a very low temperature and observing the process using muons at ISIS.
The experiment allowed the team to detect magnetic charges in the spin ice (Dy2Ti2O7), to measure their currents, and to determine the elementary unit of the magnetic charge in the material. The monopoles they observed arise as disturbances of the magnetic state of the spin ice, and can exist only inside the material.
Professor Steve Bramwell, LCN co-author of the paper, said: “Magnetic monopoles were first predicted to exist in 1931, but despite many searches, they have never yet been observed as freely roaming elementary particles. These monopoles do at least exist within the spin ice sample, but not outside.
"It is not often in the field of physics you get the chance to ask 'How do you measure something?' and then go on to prove a theory unequivocally. This is a very important step to establish that magnetic charge can flow like electric charge. It is in the early stages, but who knows what the applications of magnetricity could be in 100 years time."
Professor Keith Mason, Chief Executive of STFC said; “The unequivocal proof that magnetic charge is conducted in spin ice add significantly to our understanding of electromagnetism. Whilst we will have to wait to see what applications magnetricity will find in technology, this research shows that curiosity driven research will always have the potential to make an impact on the way we live and work. Advanced materials research depends greatly on having access to central research labs like ISIS allowing the UK science community to flourish and make exciting discoveries like this”
Dr Sean Giblin, instrument scientist at ISIS and co-author of the paper, added: “The results were astounding, using muons at ISIS we are finally able to confirm that magnetic charge really is conducted through certain materials at certain temperatures – just like the way ions conduct electricity in water.”
NMI3 - Integrated Infrastructure Initiative for Neutron Scattering and Muon Spectroscopy will spend 30.000 euros of the training budget to support schools on neutron scattering and muon spectroscopy to be held from January to December of next year in different places of Europe: Germany, France, UK and Spain.
The next call for proposals for events to be held from June to December 2010, will be announced sometime in early 2010.
The NMI3 project is supported by the European Commission and falls within the action 'Research Infrastructures' of the 'Capacities' Programme. NMI3 devotes an higher percentage of its budget to training activities to improve effective use of neutron and muon facilities.
THE NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE EUROPEAN NEUTRON ASSOCIATION INTRODUCES HIS VISION ON THE FUTURE NEUTRON LANDSCAPE.(22/10/2009)
it is very important for the future of the field to recruit in a sustainable fashion “young scientists” and to ensure that the potential of the continuously improving potential of neutron scattering does reach research areas, which have not been using neutron up to now These are words of Michael Stiener the new chairman of the European Neutron Association.
Read the full article on the ENSA Website.
PLANNING YOUR EXPERIMENT FOR NEXT YEARS! REACTORS SHUT DOWNS UPCOMING! BE AWARE! (12/10/2009)
In the next two years most of the European facilities will shut down their reactors for improvements and maintenance works. Take this into account if you are planning to apply for beam time in the future!
This is the provisional schedule.
(Provisional planning shut down neutron sources - Click on the picture Diagram by Susana GOTA-GOLDMANN Laboratoire Léon Brillouin
Click to enlarge it
Shut-down schedule details for HZB - Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH. Reported by Hans A. Graf -User Access Coordination
The reactor is shut down from October 2010 until March 2011 (6 months). From April 2011 onwards the "thermal instruments" can then be used again and presumeably also the three "cold instruments" in the neutron guide hall II. Beginning in April 2011 the instruments in the neutron guide hall I (i.e. about one half of all of our instruments) are built up again and recommissioned step by step, the last instrument becoming operational again in November 2011 (except the TOF spectrometer NEAT - this will not be finished before 2013).
Shut-down schedule details for FRMII - Reactor Cycles Due to the refurbishment of the positron source, the reactor operation will be limited in 2010. We are planning to run 3,5 cycles in order to deliver 203 days of beam time for scientific and industrial applications. The work will start in October 2010 and will last till spring 2011.
Helmut Schober, NMI3 coordinator drawing the plan at the NMI3 Bussines Meeting on 7th October in Garching
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON NEUTRON SCATTERING 2013 TO BE HELD IN EDINBURGH (12/10/2009)
Edinburgh, where Malcolm III built the 11th century castle, is the place to be visited 2013 by hundreds of neutron experts. This legendary city will host the 10th International Conference in Neutron Scattering - ICNS 2013.
The decision was taken at the 32th ENSA Conference held last Friday in Garching. The delegates of the European Association in Neutron Scattering selected Edinburgh against other two candidatures: Venice and Grenoble .
Keith McEwen will take care of the organization with the help of Paul Attfield of the University of Edinburgh. Dates have to be fixed.
P Attfield and K McEwen happy at the 32th meeting in Garching - 8th October 2009
ENSA HAS A NEW BOARD (12/10/2009)
At the 32th ENSA meeting at FRMII in Garching Michael Steiner was chosen as new chairman for the European Neutron Association. M Steiner was the head of the former HMI -Hahn-Meitner-Institut until his retirement in June 2008. Now he will continue contributing to the neutron community representing the European users. His experience and his wide vision of the neutron world is a guarantee of success in his new task. Javier Campo, the Spanish delegate, will help as vice chairman of the Association with his enthusiasm, to defend the user’s interests. Kenneth D. Knudsen, the representative of Norway, will be the responsible of the correct performance of the administrative tasks. Our congratulation and best wishes to the new team!
Kenneth D. Knudsen, Michael Stiener, Javier Campo at the 32th ENSA meeting - FRMII Garching
ALL ABOUT KINETICS WITH NEUTRONS IN THE NEW BOOK PUBLISHED BY SPRINGER (18/09/09)
"Studying Kinetics with Neutrons - Prospects for Time-Resolved Neutron Scattering" - this is the title of the book that will see the light this autumn. Published by Springer the volume form part of the 'Series in Solid-State Sciences'. The book provides an overview of kinetics with neutrons: how the development of new real-time techniques allows to track transformation processes in condensed matter on a microscopic scale.
Götz Eckold, Helmut Schober, and Stephen E.Nagler are the editors.
This publication is the outcome of the Symposium Studying Kinetics with Neutrons, one of a series of conferences organized jointly by European, American and Japanese scientific institutions with a strong affiliation to Neutron Scattering. The symposium was held in September 2007 at the University of Göttingen, Germany.
NMI3 book contest at the International Conference on Neutron Scattering - Knoxville, USA, May 2009.
WORKING ON DIAGNOSTICS OF ENERGY MATERIALS WITH SYNCHROTRON OR NEUTRON RADIATION? SEND YOUR ABSTRACT FOR CONTRIBUTED TALKS NOW! (24/07/2009)
Next year in springtime the MRS Symposium "Diagnostics and Characterization of Energy Materials with Synchrotron and Neutron Radiation" will be held in San Francisco, California.
The 2010 Materials Research Society Spring Meeting will feature 42 technical symposia in four topical clusters: Functional Materials, Nanomaterials, Energy Materials, Soft/Biomaterials.
If you are working on energy conversion and storage materials and devices, and you are a researcher who study such systems at large-scale facilities...
... this is the right event to show your results and to discuss on the future possibilities for the analysis of materials for the energy sector!. You can attend this interesting symposium at the Moscone West Convention Center in San Francisco, from 5 to 9 of April 2010.
SUBMIT YOUR ABSTRACT! before November 2, 2009
DO IT NOW! if you are late it will not be accepted.
ORGANIZING A SCHOOL OR WORKSHOP ON NEUTRON OR MUON TECHNIQUES? GET THE MONEY! (04/06/09)
Do you need money to grant young people attending an international neutron school?
Do you have a good idea to organize a Workshop in a specific and outstanding application of neutron or muon techniques?
Submit your proposal until the 30th of June 2009.
NMI3, the Integrated Infrastructure Initiative for Neutron Scattering and Muon Spectroscopy supports:
• Schools on neutron scattering and/or muon spectroscopy.
• Workshops to improve neutron and muon techniques and methods.
• Foresight Studies.
Please note that, due to the more limited funds that are available to the NMI3 in FP7, preference will be given to applications for schools on neutron scattering or muon spectroscopy.
THE EUROPEAN SPALLATION SOURCE CLOSER TO THE REALITY: A MESSAGE OF THE ENSA CHAIRMAN (03/06/09)
ENSA news Peter Allenspach Chairman of ENSA and Coordinator of the FP7 ESS Preparatory Phase Project, comments on the recommendation of the European Research ministers to build the European Spallation Source in Lund in Sweden. On behalf of Europe's neutron users, he thanks the people helping ESS to take this big step towards becoming a reality.
On behalf of Europe's neutron users, represented by the European Neutron Scattering Association, ENSA, I would like to extend my thanks and admiration to the Swedish, Spanish and Hungarian teams and also to all the other neutron scientists and technologists from across Europe who are continuing to work so hard to turn ESS from neutron dream to neutron reality."
THE EUROPEAN SPALLATION SOURCE WILL BE BUILT IN LUND, SWEDEN (29/05/09)
Press release ESSS - European Spallation Source Scandinavia
Friday, 29 May 2009 12:37
Clear support for ESS in Sweden: A great step for European science
On Thursday evening at a meeting of research ministers in Brussels, the Swedish candidacy to build the European research facility ESS received support from a clear majority. It is now clear that the ESS will be built in Lund, Sweden.
Sweden was supported by seven countries – Germany, France, Poland, Denmark, Norway, Estonia and Latvia – with a further two, Italy and Switzerland, voting with the majority. One country supported another candidate country.
- This clear majority for Sweden means that the siting of the ESS now is decided. This is a great step for European science, and for tomorrow’s scientists, says Colin Carlile, Director of ESS Scandinavia.
- We heartily thank our fellow site contenders Spain and Hungary. Without this strong competition there could not have been a decision on the ESS. Now we must all work together in the neutron community of Europe to build the next generation neutron source.
- The Scandinavian ESS team has been working for this decision since 2000, but now the real work will begin!, concludes Colin Carlile.
The European Spallation Source, ESS, will be the world-leading research facility using neutrons for materials research and life science. It will be one of Europe’s largest research centres, and co-located with the next generation synchrotron MAXIV.
FIRST USERS AT THE ISIS SECOND TARGET STATION (28/05/09)
ISIS Second Target Station - Wednesday 27 May 2009 After five years of construction, the ISIS Second Target Station has opened its doors for the first scheduled experiment.Professor Jeff Penfold, the Chief Scientist for the ISIS Second Target Station is leading the team from Oxford University and ISIS. The joint team will carry out the experiment on the Inter reflectometer. They expect the results to lead to significant advances in understanding the workings of everything from cell membranes to the practical chemistry of fabric conditioners.
THREE CANDIDATURES FOR ICNS 2013 (28/05/09) Three European candidatures were presented at Knoxville to host the next International Conference on Neutron Scattering: Edinburg, Grenoble and Venice.... More information coming soon.
IMAGES OF THE 9th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF NEUTRON SCATTERING (27/05/09)
The first was Hakone in Japan, afterwards followed Santa Fe, Grenoble, Oxford, Sendai, Toronto, Munich, Australia and this year the 9th International Conference gathered around 600 experts of 29 countries in Knoxville from May 3rd through 7th, 2009.
ICNS 09 was sponsored by the Neutron Scattering Society of America and hosted by Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
• A Conference Exhibits of sixteen manufacturers and suppliers, nine neutron facilities and diverse organizations from Europe, America and Australia, and the three contenders to host the expected European Spallation Neutron Source.
• 303 Poster to present during the sessions and coffee breaks
• 200 talks and 8 plenary sessions covering topics in biology, chemistry, materials science, engineering, soft matter, condensed matter physics, instrumentation, and fundamental physics.
• 16 satellite meetings
• The presentation of the Walter Hälg Prize of the European Neutron Scattering Association to Dieter Richter, a tour of the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) and High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR), the Conference Walk-around Banquet.. and much more!
Take a look to the video and get an impression!
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xyhJv-FatU
INTERVIEW WITH DIETER RICHTER THE WINNER OF THE 2009 WALTER HAELG PRIZE (27/05/09)
Professor Dieter Richter (Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany), is the winner of the 2009 Hälg Prize of the European Neutron Scattering Association, in recognition of his coherent work towards understanding the dynamics of polymers and biological macromolecules using high-resolution neutron scattering
techniques.
• You have won a number of prizes during your career. Does the Haelg Prize mean something different to you?
This prize is for me very special, because is the recognition of my colleagues
• If you search Google for ‘Richter Soft Matter’ you will get around one thousand references: conferences, talks, meetings, books, and thousand of papers… a long and successful career. The best moment in your professional life:
The best time of my career was the time I was senior scientist at ILL in Grenoble. At that time I could work very well scientifically without being bothered by other things.
• Soft Matter in four easy words:
Soft matter are many things that are around you: polymers, plastics, food, biological matter. All these materials have rather similar properties and are governed by statistical physics and therefore we can deal with all this materials under similar aspects.
• How soft matter interact with industry?
There is a huge industry dealing with Soft Matter. Big companies as Unilever UK, BASF, Dow... When you think about cosmetics, shampoo, cleaning agents… is all Soft matter. Applications and science are relative close together. Any agreements with the industry?
I am involved in several European projects where Industry plays an important role.
• Your dedication to work:
About ten or eleven hours per day
• Your hobbies:
Hiking the mountains, skiing... I try to do it as often as I can. I used to play tennis but I cannot do it anymore. I am also interested in literature, particularly in some modern literature.
• And music?: Opera, I like very much to go to the Opera.
• What's next? Your next dream or objective.
In the future in particular I’ll work in a better understanding on the functioning of biological molecules and the dynamics. This is my scientific hobby.
Prize-Giving Ceremony Walter Hälg Prize at the International Conference Neutron Scattering - ICNS 2009 at Knoxville on Tuesday 5th May. Prof Dieter Richter receiving the Prize (10,000 Swiss Francs) from the hands of Peter Allenspach (ENSA chairman) and delivering his acceptance speech on soft matter dynamics titled "Interdisciplinary Soft Matter". (Pictures Courtesy of MRS Materials Research Society & ESSS)
BOOK CONTEST AT THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF NEUTRON SCATTERING IN KNOXVILLE, TN (21/05/09).
The recently started NMI3 project, supported by the new Seventh Frame programme of the European Commission (FP7), was present at the International Neutron Scattering Conference in Knoxville. The Integrated Infrastructure Initiative for Neutron Scattering and Muon Spectroscopy was Bronze Sponsor of the Conference and one of the 30 exhibitors of this 2009 edition of ICNS.
Information was provided on NMI3 activities during the latest period (under FP6) and a ‘Quest Map’ representing the 10 neutron facilities taking part in the NMI3 project was presented. The quest consisted in matching the right logo with each of the 10 European neutron facilits in the map. In collaboration with ORNL-SNS, NMI3 offered the possibility to win a copy of the recently published book: Neutron Applications in Earth, Energy, And Environmental Sciences (Springer) to the successful map quest participants. This publication stems from a series of foresight workshops jointly organized by European, American and Japanese scientific institutions with a strong affiliation to Neutron Scattering.
Romano Rinaldi, from the University of Perugia, Italy, is one of the Editors of the book, together with Liyuan Liang from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Helmut Schober from the Institut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble, France. Romano was invited to present the book at the NMI3 booth, and went even further... taking the contest under his own responsibility and dedicating some of his precious time to the visitors of the booth. ORNL-SNS supported the Book Raffle providing three copies of the volume..
These are the Winners of the NMI3-ORNL Map Quest - Book Raffle Contest at ICNS'09, Knoxville:
Premysl Beran
Department of Neutron Physics, Nuclear Physics Institute,
Řež Czech Republic
Elinor Spencer
Dept. Geosciences, Crystallography Laboratory
Virginia Tech, USA
Natkaniec Ireneusz
Frank Laboratory Neutron Physics, Joint Institute Nuclear Research
Dubna, Moscow reg. Russia
The Knoxville Convention Center hosts neutron experts from all over the world attending the 2009 International Conference on Neutron Scattering (ICNS2009). John Root, director of the Canadian Neutron Beam Centre, opened the Conference with an enthusiastic and interactive talk on the state of neutron scattering throughout the world. The objective of his talk was to start the disscusion and he did it!. The audience cooperated actively expressing their ideas on 'how to make the value of neutron scattering into common knowledge'. The 660 attractive scientific presentations covering topics in biology, chemistry, engineering, soft matter, etc, the colorful exhibit and posters, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Tour and the ‘multiculti’ environment of the coffee breaks, makes this Conference brilliant, in spite of the rain.
SWEDEN AND SPAIN IN AGREEMENT ABOUT ESS (03/05/09) Sweden and Spain intend to sign a Memorandum of Understanding that the research facility ESS (European Spallation Source) will be built in Lund, Sweden.
Read the Press Release
WHAT DO NEUTRONS HAVE TO DO WITH BIOLOGY? (03/05/09)
Neutrons in Biology 2009 - a meeting on recent progress in the application of neutron scattering to problems in biological and biomedical science at Palaestra, Lund University, Lund Sweden 22-24 June 2009. As the trend towards interdisciplinarity widens for the study of biological systems, neutron scattering approaches are becoming an increasingly important part of the powerful array of techniques that are needed to study these systems in a genuinely integrated way. The programme of the meeting will cover biological problems that are currently being addressed by different neutron scattering techniques as well as those where there is the potential to do so in the future. A conscious effort will therefore be made to involve researchers whose activities currently do not exploit these methods. Strong emphasis will also be placed on enabling technologies - eg deuteration and other forms of isotope labelling, and methods for sample preparation. The meeting is organised by Physical Chemistry, Lund University and scientists associated with neutron facilities around Europe. The meeting is sponsored by The Swedish Research Council, The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences through its Nobel Institute of Chemistry, NMI3, Region Skåne and ESS-Scandinavia.
For further info and registration please visit The Neutrons in Biology 2009 pages
THE 2009 HÄLG PRIZE AWARDED TO DIETER RICHTER (02/04/09)
The selection committee of the 2009 Walter Hälg Prize of the European Neutron Scattering Association (ENSA) is delighted to announce that the recipient of the 2009 Walter Hälg Prize will be:
Professor Dieter Richter
of the Research Center Jülich, Germany, in recognition of his coherent work towards understanding the dynamics of polymers and biological macromolecules using high-resolution neutron scattering
techniques.
The Prize is awarded biennially to a European scientist for outstanding, coherent work in neutron scattering with long-term impact on scientific and/or technical neutron scattering applications. The sixth award of the prize is expected to be awarded during the International Conference on Neutron Scattering ICNS 2009 (May 3-7, 2009, Knoxville, USA).
FORUM TO DISCUSS HOW TO RUN A NEUTRON USER FACILITY (01/04/09)
How to run a neutron user facility?
How a neutron source such as ESS could be operated?
… before the experiment, the experiment and all around it, after the experiment, attraction and education of new users…
We need your ideas! Even crazy ideas!
A forum has been created just to discuss this item.
Your opinion is Welcome!
This initiative belong to one of the tasks of the ESS Preparatory Phase.
Reported by: ESS Preparatory Phase Project - FP7.
Contact: Peter Allenspach
Register selecting the registration option on the upper right corner of the login page. Then a confirmation mail is sent automatically to the e-mail indicated during the registration procedure. This e mail contains an account activation link. For any technical problem contact Antonio Deriu
40.000€ FOR TRAINING ACTIVITIES ON NEUTRON AND MUON TECHNIQUES (31/03/09)
NMI3 FIRST ROUND FOR PROPOSALS EVALUATED.
The Integrated Infrastructure Initiative for Neutron Scattering and Muon Spectroscopy (NMI3-FP7) devote a high percentage of its budget to support training activities focused on neutron scattering and muon spectroscopy. The training of new generations of future users is one of the main NMI3 tasks.
The results of the evaluation of the 14 proposals submitted to the First NMI3 call to support training activities, was presented today at the NMI3 Launch meeting in Villigen. The Evaluation Committee proposes the assignation of a total of 40.000€ to support six schools and one workshop, to be held during the year 2009 in different places of Europe: France, Germany, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.
The next Call for Proposals, for events to be held from January 2010 to June 2010, will be announced this spring.
Welcome to the first issue of PSI facility news! This quarterly electronic newsletter will keep you informed about news and scientific highlights from the PSI photon, neutron and muon user facilities.
Please access the PSI facility news here We are pleased for any feedback and suggestions for topics or content.
With kind regards
The PSI facility news team
PAUL SCHERRER INSTITUT
CH-5232 Villigen PSI
Switzerland
NEW MANAGER FOR THE NMI3 PROJECT UNDER FP7 (19/02/09)
Miriam Förster has taken over the administrative task for the NMI3 project under FP7. Miriam joint the NMI3 team with a broad international experience in project management, research expertise and language skills: you can communicate with our NMI3 manager in German, English, French, Spanish and in the future also in Swedish.
After environmental engineering studies in Germany, Miriam worked in many different projects and countries: for example in West Africa as project manager for a 'Waste Water Master Plan' project, or in Mozambique for a 'Road rehabilitation programme', financed through international funding. After that, she went to France in order to manage a European research contrat (FP5) at the French National Engineering School on the topic of Stormwater management. Just before coming to the ILL, this year, she worked for a french competitiveness cluster on sustainable development, in order to enhance collaborative research projects between industries and research institutions.
Miriam will work closely together with Helmut Schober the coordinator of the NMI3 project, Robert McGReevy as dissemination coordinator and Ana Claver as information manager.
This is her message to all the people that will be involved in the FP7/NMI3 project:
'I really look forward to meet all the project participants and bring NMI3 and perhaps future projects forward. Don't hesitate to get in touch with me, I will do my best to support you and try to help you out in any problem on the administrative side of the FP7 contract.'
NEW BOOK PUBLISHED BY SPRINGER SURVEYS THE APPLICATIONS OF NEUTRON METHODS IN THE FIELDS OF EARTH, ENERGY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES.(27/01/09)
The new book entitled ‘Neutron Applications in Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences’ surveys the diversity of present day applications of neutron methods in the fields of Earth, Energy, and Environmental Sciences. Introductions to neutron scattering fundamentals and instrumentation are paired with a thorough review of applications to a large variety of scientific and technological problems, written through the direct experience of leading scientists in each field.
Liang Liang from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Romano Rinaldi, from the Università di Perugia, and Helmut Schober from the Institut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble, France are the editors.
This volume is the first of the Springer books Series Neutron Scattering Applications and Techniques. The series include currently three titles (two to be published in 2009) and Its goal is to provide scientists and engineers with reference books which highlight the unique capabilities of neutron techniques to elucidate critical questions in established and emergent areas of science.
This publication is the outcome of the Symposium on Neutrons at the Frontier of Earth Sciences and Environment - NESE , one of a series of conferences organized jointly by European, American and Japanese scientific institutions with a strong affiliation to Neutron Scattering. The symposium, integrated into the General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union, was held in Vienna on April 2005.
FIRST ROUND OF THE NMI3 CALL FOR PROPOSALS LAUNCHED! Deadline for application is January 30th 2009
The first NMI3 call for proposal under FP7 to support schools and workshops on neutron scattering and muon spectroscopy is open now. This first call will support events to be held during the year 2009.
How, who, when and guidelines to apply on the NMI3 pages!
INTERVIEW WITH JEFFREY PENFOLD THE WINNER OF THE 2007 WALTER HAELG PRIZE (03/10/07)
Professor Jeffrey Penfold (Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, UK) is the winner the 2007 Hälg Prize of the European Neutron Scattering Association, in recognition of his ground breaking work on neutron reflection which he developed as an invaluable tool in colloid and interface science.
- Your work in four easy words:
I use neutron scattering techniques as a tool to investigate the behaviour of surfactants (detergents), surfactant mixtures, and surfactant / polymer mixtures at surfaces and interfaces, and the nature of their self-assembly in solution. Over the past 20 or so years I have had strong links with the home and personal care industry, which has sponsored much of my research, and so much of what I do relates directly to the performance of home and personal care products (detergents, shampoos, conditioners etc).
- Your opinion as expert:
How neutrons meets the needs of industry?
Having worked closely with industry (home and personal care sector mainly) for ~ 20 years I am well placed to comment. It does require a close relationship with industry, such that they can appreciate what neutron scattering has to offer them, and for us to understand the nature and context of their problems. I have been directly involved in a number of areas where neutron scattering has made a direct and quantifiable impact upon product formulation and processing. How to incentivate the use of neutrons in Biology?
I believe that there is a great potential for applying neutron scattering to a wide range of problems in biology. The areas of applicability have to be carefully identified and realistic goals set (it is important not to overstate what can be achieved, or to try to compete in areas where other techniques are more applicable). Again a closer dialogue with biologists is needed in order to more fully understand where neutron scattering can contribute and to overcome the barriers associated with our different jargons and cultures.
- Your dedication to work:
I think that I would best be described as ‘driven’, and so I do work hard, but not excessively so. I enjoy what I do so much that I am a reluctant holiday taker (ask my family!). Not that i dislike holidays, on the contrary, but I also enjoy research.
- Your hobbies:
With a relatively young family and a job which is really a hobby there has been little time for much else. However, I have recently resurrected my interest in painting (watercolours), as before starting a career in science I had intended to go to art school.
INTERVIEW WITH HENRIK M. RØNNOW, THE WINNER OF THE 2007 ERWIN FELIX LEWY BERTAUT PRIZE (21/09/07)
Lund, June 2007.
Henrik M.Rønnow is the winner of the Lewy-Bertaut prize of the European Crystallographic Association and European Neutron Scattering Association. We met him in Lund, Sweden, at the European Conference on Neutron Scattering, where he received the award in the ceremony that took place on 28 of June. He presented a talk entitled "Blue crystal magnetism - neutrons in the quasiparticle zoo"
- Your work in four easy words:
I use neutron scattering to study magnetic materials. In particular materials where the magnetic properties are governed by the so called law of quant mechanics, which are in some way different from the classical laws that we know. That’s why it is complicated and we need to study it. What we do with neutrons is to take a beam of neutrons and shoot them at our sample. Then we look in what directions they get scattered and basically by seeing what directions they get scattered, we get an idea of how the system looks inside. In the same way as if you shoot a billiard ball into a triangle billiard balls, you can see in the way they get scattered out.
- Your opinion as neutron young scientist: how to bring new users in the "neutron world"?
It will actually only work if someone goes to their field and really works with them to do the first experiments. Because if you just advertise it and say: look, you can come into this but it does require to you to learn a complete new technique, and there is no example of the fact that this is actually successful. That’s a very large barrier to a scientist. He has techniques that already work and he needs a motivation to go on and to use a new technique. It is the same for us as neutron scatters. We need a reason to do other techniques and that reason is that there has to be somebody to demonstrate that this is good. I think that’s the only way of bringing people in.
- Your dedication to work:
I get awake at 6 in the morning and I come home at six to take our son from the nanny. And I usually work one hour or two around midnight. I work twelve to fourteen hours a day. Time is certainly our biggest problem.
-Your age:
I am thirty three years old.
- The sages say that there are three things a person ought to do in life: plant a tree, have a child, and write a book...
Did you plant a tree?
I planted a forest once! Did you wrote a book?
I have not written a book
... but he has published over fifty papers with a high impact factor, in sixteen different prestigious journals, in less than ten years ...
"Henrik M. Rønnow has a brilliant track record that illustrates a truly successful career of a young European scientist." (As it is said in the Lewy-Bertaut prize announce)
THE 4th EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON NEUTRON SCATTERING AT LUND (18/07/07)
ECNS 2007: The fourth of a series of successful meetings organised by the European Neutron Scattering Association. ECNS is held every four years. It was held in Interlaken in 1996, Budapest in 1999, Montpellier in 2003 and this year in Lund from Monday 25 to Friday 29 June 2007. The next will be in Prague in 2011.
• A multidisciplinary meeting with scientists from a wide range of disciplines: physics, chemistry, biology, materials science, ...
• An important gathering of the neutron research community with:
around 700 participants from Europe and the rest of the world.
8 plenary lectures
23 presentations
600 posters across three poster sessions
17 exhibitors with products of interest to the neutron scattering community
8 satellite meetings
• Interesting papers and posters about:
- the main neutron applications: magnetism, soft matter, chemical structure, life sciences ...
- the emerging uses: cultural heritage, environment ...
- new instrumentation
(PDF, 0.221 MB)
more...
Supported by the EU through FP5, FP6 and FP7