Scientific domains

Neutrons are unique as probes into matter; they can reveal what other techniques cannot see. They therefore provide a powerful tool for investigating the natural world and have long played a role at the forefront of modern scientific research.

As particularly ingenious techniques and precise instrumentation have been developed over the years, neutron experiments have been able to explore an ever-expanding range of complex scientific problems. Neutrons today provide answers to many questions in science, from the evolution of the Universe to the mechanisms underlying complex natural phenomena.

The ILL has been performing experiments at the cutting edge of research for more than 40 years now, in fields as varied as molecular biology, chemistry, fundamental physics, materials science and the environment.

The examples of science in these pages give a flavour of what can be done with neutrons, Many other examples can be found in the many brochures available. See in particular the 2023 impact brochure. 

These examples illustrate the power of neutrons in many areas of science.