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In a series of experiments published in Nature Physics, researchers from Japan, the UK, Sweden, and the Czech Republic collaborated at ILL-IN15, one of the world's leading spin echo facilities. Their neutron spin echo (NSE) experiments confirmed the presence of asymmetric dynamics in the skyrmion phase of MnSi, indicating its strong potential for spintronic devices and sustainable technology.

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.

A recent study published in Nature Communications reveals an unexpected transition between two different insulator states. Neutron diffractometry experiments at the ILL, conducted on the D2B high-resolution, two-axis diffractometer, open up the path towards advanced technologies by providing vital insights into the complex electronic behavior of such materials.

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.

More than a century after the discovery of the atomic nucleus, no universal model can yet reliably predict its properties as the numbers of protons and neutrons change. Exotic nuclei – highly unstable and complex systems with unique properties – challenge and extend current nuclear theory. An additional piece of the puzzle was recently provided from the combination of experimental results from two leading international facilities and advanced theoretical calculations.

Using ILL's neutron imaging instrument NeXT, researchers were able to visualise how different fuel cells manage their only reactant product: water. This study demonstrates the uniquely important role of neutrons in the design of tomorrow's energy conversion technologies.

Energy-resolved neutron experiments provide insights into novel energy technologies

Future progress will be defined by the development of new and innovative next-generation materials. Despite the magnitude of the endeavour, breakthroughs will depend on understanding at the smallest scale: fundamentally, the properties of a material depend on its structure. A recent study highlights the unique insights that can be provided by world-leading neutron expertise, instruments and technology at the ILL.

HIV/AIDS remains a major global health challenge, with an estimated 39 million people living with the disease and 1.5 million new infections each year. Though antiretroviral therapy provides effective treatment and prevention, limitations arise due to inadequate adherence to the required lifelong daily drug regimen. There is thus significant interest in the development of long-acting drug delivery systems that enable consistent and sustained drug release for extended periods. Researchers from Queen’s University Belfast have recently published proof-of-concept of a long-acting drug delivery platform based on a novel peptoid-peptide material. The contribution to this work by the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) demonstrates, once again, the facility’s dedication to the provision of neutrons for society.

From drug delivery to the development of responsive materials, self-assembled supramolecular structures have many applications. Understanding their organisation and reaction to external parameters is key. In a new study, researchers explore the effect of high pressures taking full advantage of ILL’s leadership in this domain.

An article recently published in Cell Reports reveals how researchers have for the first time directly visualized the position of protons within key functional elements of an enzyme that plays an important role in the metabolism of many microorganisms. Neutron diffraction measurements at ILL of protein crystals grown under microgravity conditions at the International Space Station (ISS) were key ingredients in this work.

Today, physicists can describe our world with ever increasing precision: The Standard Model of particle physics successfully describes all observation concerning three out of four fundamental interactions - the electromagnetic, the weak and the strong interaction. Gravitation, the fourth known interaction, is fully explained by General Relativity. The application of General Relativity to the enti…