(AGENPARL) – gio 06 ottobre 2022 ESS and ILL bring together 320 neutron researchers in Lund
This week the European neutron research community gather in Lund, Sweden, to share and discuss the latest progress in neutron research within areas such as life sciences, the environment, smart materials and energy solutions. For the first time, the conference takes place in the hometown of the research facility European Spallation Source (ESS), which is currently under construction.
[European researchers visiting the Long Instruments hall at ESS during the ESS ILL User meeting in Lund ]
Photo: Ulrika Hammarlund/ESS
Neutron science is fundamental for the advanced materials research needed to address society’s main challenges. Today’s globally leading neutron source, Institut Laue Langevin (ILL) in France, has enabled crucial scientific discoveries related to materials, energy and health for 50 years. The future flagship facility ESS will be in full operations by 2027, providing new opportunities for cutting-edge science through its unprecedented brightness and state-of-the-art instruments.
The two research facilities are jointly hosting the the third ESS ILL User meeting, a major conference for European neutron researchers from academia and industry to showcase the latest developments made possible by neutrons across a diverse range of research areas, provide status updates about the facilities and look ahead to future opportunities for neutron science.
For the first time the three-day-long conference takes place in Lund, allowing the scientists and future users of ESS to visit the next-generation research facility and see the progress in technical installations and high-performance instrumentation firsthand.
“It is a great pleasure to welcome neutron researchers from all over the world to Lund and to ESS, where they, in only a few years from now, will carry out world-leading research to address societal challenges – just as ILL does so successfully since five decades,” says Helmut Schober, ESS Director General and former Director of ILL. “With ESS providing unique tools and unprecedented performance, a vital scientific community and enhanced collaboration between all European facilities, all conditions are united for Europe maintaining the lead in this important research field.”
A large number of science talks in a wide range of research fields are being held during the conference, highlighting for example the mRNA delivery, such as that used for the Covid-19 vaccines, the function of proteins in the SARS-CoV-2 virus, front-edge research relating to carbon capture, superconducting materials, batteries and fuel cells, as well as insights into Martian meteorites.
“I’m excited to hear about the latest scientific results from our research communityand to also share news about the new experimental capabilities that will be available at the ILL early in 2023,” says Paul Langan, ILL Director. “It’s also an important opportunity for everyone to see for themselves the progress being made towards bringing the ESS into operation with further new capabilities later in the decade.”
The ESS-ILL User meetings, held every two years, provide an important platform for collaboration, exchanging ideas about science and experimental techniques that enables consolidation of Europe’s world-leading role and shaping the future for neutron science.
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