Dr. Arno Hiess

I am experienced in developing, operating and using neutron instrumentation plus associated support systems for over 30years and have demonstrated a strong commitment to harness the scientific potential of neutron scattering methods by providing ever improved experiments possibilities to the user community. Today, I am co-responsible for the cold neutron three-axis spectrometer ThALES . Previously, I have been (co-) responsible for several three-axis spectrometers IN14, IN8 and IN3 and acted as ‘local contact’ for many users of ILL’s spectrometer suite.

During my 12 years (2011-2023) at the European Spallation Source ERIC (ESS), Lund, Sweden, I built a strong and successful team designing, constructing and operating ESS science support systems encompassing all needs for sample environment systems, scientific laboratories as well as the scientific coordination & user office. Today, I strive to keep a tight collaboration with ESS e.g. sustain and grow the link between ESS, ILL and their neutron user community to support research using neutrons in diverse scientific fields.

I am honoured that the French community entrusted me to take an active role in the board of the French Neutron Scattering association since 2023. In this role, I am supporting exchange between other neutron associations including ENSA, with facilities including ILL and the user community as a whole, not least by co-organising scientific conferences and workshops for the neutron community.

My scientific research into magnetism and superconductivity of intermetallic compounds containing either rare earth (magnetic 4f electrons) or actinide (magnetic 5f electrons) elements uses various neutron and x-ray scattering techniques and requires low temperatures and strong magnetic fields. Following on my habilitation in 2009, I remain affiliated with the Technical University Dresden. As a side line aiming for impact in a non-scientific environment, I am using neutrons to enable art & science and other projects.

Being affiliated also with the European Spallation Source (ESS), I support several collaborative technical projects between ESS and ILL. Also not directly related to ILL but rather my ESS duties, I remain involved in the Horizon Europe FlexRIcan project (ESS, EMFL, ELI) which started in 3/2024.  I take responsibility for delivering the 'big picture’ on the operational aspects with the vision of using RIs as positive players for the EU electricity grid and increase energy security. I am striving to take an active part in additional third party funded projects in the near future.

Since many years I am involved in teaching activities and student supervision. Today I am involved in the supervision of PhD student Jeppe Cederholm working mainly under the guidance of Ursula Hansen at ILL and Henrik Ronnow and Ellen Fogh at EPFL on high pressure studies of quantum magnets. I am looking forward starting an additional PhD project with Lund University colleagues on the Thermal Hall Effect in the near future.

Full list: 

https://epn-library.esrf.fr/