News

During the Spring Meeting of the Condensed Matter Section of the German Physical Society (DPG), held in Dresden in March 2026, a round table was held on the theme ‘Novel Opportunities for Cooperation between France and Germany in Neutron Science’. The discussion counted on the participation of the directors of the French and German facilities and of representatives of the neutron user association in both countries, SFN and KFN. This is an account of the discussion by Jacques Jestin, ILL Science Director and French Associate Director and one of the participants of the round table.

Neutron scattering shows how local density shapes motion within self-assembled protein structures

Blood-based biomarkers are widely used to diagnose and monitor diseases through simple blood tests. However, in some cases they can be partially “hidden” and harder to detect accurately. Researchers investigated, with molecular accuracy, how biomarkers interact with lipid membranes using neutron reflectometry at the ILL.

A newly published study looks into the molecular motions of therapeutic antibodies and their ability to interact with their target molecules. The results provide crucial information for optimising design and formulations in future developments.

Paul's PhD project aims to develop a unique structural model that will ultimately help to improve the stability, medical efficiency, and range of applications of lipid nanoparticle-based drug formulations.

High-quality neutron and X-ray data acquired using red blood cells allowed researchers to establish a universal theoretical description of cell membranes.

After a week in Jülich, the school moved to the ILL for a week of hands-on training. The participants had access to 24 world-class instruments out of ILL’s suite of over 40. The course took place during the second ILL reactor cycle of 2025.

Neutron imaging provides real-time insights into the next generation of battery technology

Thanks to a recent upgrade of ILL’s neutron reflectometer D17, molecular motions can be tracked with unprecedented precision

A team of researchers recently used the thermal-neutron two-axis diffractometer D23 at the ILL to investigate Na2 BaCo(PO4 )2 (NBCP), a material that surprisingly behaves as a ‘spin supersolid’ -a state combining properties of both a solid and a liquid. Neutrons, acting like tiny magnets themselves, were the ideal probes to reveal the hidden magnetic order and dynamics within this material. This discovery, which is also relevant for energy-efficient cooling, provides the first real-life evidence of a supersolid state in a quantum magnet.

Last week, the very first team of users has been performing experiments on the SHARPER instrument at the ILL.

A recent study, published in Science and Technology of Advanced Materials, and conducted at the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL), utilised polarised neutron scattering on the D33 instrument to explore skyrmions. This research provided crucial microscopic insights into these magnetic structures. The D33 instrument's unique ability to combine high magnetic fields and  polarised neutrons was essential for understanding skyrmion phase transitions. The findings  can enhance the development of skyrmion-based spintronic devices, which promise lower energy consumption and higher data storage efficiency. The study's methodologies can be applied to other magnetic materials, aiding in the discovery of new phenomena and the development of advanced magnetic materials.