Science Using Neutrons

Solving the grand challenges facing our societies often requires the development of new high-performance materials. Research on materials will provide the basis for the technologies of the future that are needed to achieve a sustainable high standard of living all over the globe.

Tailor-made materials and material systems are required for the advancement of all key technologies, from information technology and renewable energy concepts, to safer and more environmentally friendly transport systems, to life-saving medical applications. Probing materials with neutrons stands as one of the pillars of the analytical techniques in this chain of discovery.

LENS will help develop these technologies by optimising the use of resources for neutron investigations through strategic coordination among the neutron facilities.

Neutrons have exciting abilities which allow scientists to understand the world around us at the atomic and molecular level, in a non-destructive manner. This makes neutron science one of the most useful analytical techniques used across numerous science and technology disciplines. Due to the characteristics of neutrons – making them suited to investigate magnetic properties, light elements or big samples – they can address scientific questions arising from many grand societal challenges and make great socio-economic impacts.