Quantum materials

A neutron diffraction experiment down to the unprecedented low temperatures of 160 mK under a pressure of 20 GPa has been made possible by novel in-house developments in cryogenic and high-pressure techniques at the ILL.

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.

Recently published findings from experiments carried out at the ILL and at SINQ confirm monochromatic small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) as the definitive go-to method to characterise multiband superconductivity in a material.