© Adobe Stock
PSI-Forschende haben den Ladungsradius von Helium-3 mithilfe von myonischem Helium erstmals mit bislang unerreichter Präzision vermessen – ein Meilenstein für die Theorie leichter Atomkerne. Das Bild illustriert den Helium-3-Kern mit zwei Protonen (rot) und einem Neutron (gelb). © Adobe Stock
22.05.2025
•Grundlagen der Natur
•8 min

Neue Massstäbe in der Kernphysik

Mit bislang unerreichter Präzision: PSI-Forschende vermessen den Kernradius von myonischem Helium-3 und stellen die Theorien der Atomphysik auf den Prüfstand. 

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Römische Miniaturschloss aus dem 3. oder 4. Jahrhundert nach Christus
Das römische Miniaturschloss aus dem 3. oder 4. Jahrhundert nach Christus – kaum grösser als ein Fingernagel, kunstvoll gefertigt aus Gold. Der innere Eisenmechanismus blieb lange verborgen, da herkömmliche bildgebende Verfahren an der dichten Goldhülle scheiterten. Erst mithilfe der Neutronentomografie am PSI konnte das Schloss zerstörungsfrei entschlüsselt werden. © LWL/S. Brentführer
01.05.2025
•Grossforschungsanlagen
•9 min

Ein goldener Winzling aus der Römerzeit

David Mannes vom PSI lüftete mithilfe von Neutronen das Geheimnis eines faszinierenden archäologischen Fundstücks.

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Christian Rüegg
18.12.2024
•Grossforschungsanlagen
•7 min

IMPACT: Upgrade an PSI-Forschungsanlage beschlossen

Die Finanzierung der Umbauten an der Protonenbeschleunigeranlage des PSI wurde vom Schweizer Parlament bewilligt.

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Many functional materials are composed of coherent domains or grains, where molecules and atoms are arranged in a repeating pattern that determines performance. X-ray Linear Dichroic Orientation Tomography (XL-DOT) allows 3D mapping of material microstructure at the nanoscale. Here, the technique is applied to a pillar of vanadium pentoxide catalyst, used in the production of sulfuric acid. The colours in the tomogram represent the different orientation of grains.
Many functional materials are composed of coherent domains or grains, where molecules and atoms are arranged in a repeating pattern that determines performance. X-ray Linear Dichroic Orientation Tomography (XL-DOT) allows 3D mapping of material microstructure at the nanoscale. Here, the technique is applied to a pillar of vanadium pentoxide catalyst, used in the production of sulfuric acid. The colours in the tomogram represent the different orientation of grains. © Paul Scherrer Institute PSI/Andreas Apseros
11.12.2024
•Zukunftstechnologien
•9 min

Mapping the Nanoscale Architecture of Functional Materials

A new X-ray technique reveals the 3D orientation of ordered material structures at the nanoscale, allowing new insights into material functionality.

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PSI Center for Neutron and Muon Sciences

The PSI Center for Neutron and Muon Sciences uses neutrons and muons to explore and understand matter and materials.

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Khasanov et al

Pressure effect on the spin density wave transition in La2PrNi2O6.96

High-pressure studies reveal a stark contrast between the superconducting properties of double-layer Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) nickelates La2⁢PrNi2⁢O7 and La3⁢Ni2⁢O7. While La2⁢PrNi2⁢O7 exhibits bulk superconductivity, La3⁢Ni2⁢O7 displays filamentary behavior, suggesting that superconductivity is confined to phase interfaces rather than the bulk. Since magnetism emerges ...

Sakrikar et al (2)

Pressure tuning of competing interactions on a honeycomb lattice

Exchange interactions are mediated via orbital overlaps across chemical bonds. Thus, modifying the bond angles by physical pressure or strain can tune the relative strength of competing interactions. Here we present a remarkable case of such tuning between the Heisenberg (J) and Kitaev (K) exchange, which respectively establish magnetically ordered and spin liquid phases on a honeycomb lattice. We observe ...

Graham et al

Tailoring the Normal and Superconducting State Properties of Ternary Scandium Tellurides, Sc6MTe2 (M = Fe, Ru, and Ir) Through Chemical Substitution

The pursuit of a unifying theory for non-BCS superconductivity has faced significant challenges. One approach to overcome such challenges is to perform systematic investigations into superconductors containing d-electron metals in order to elucidate their underlying mechanisms. Recently, the Sc6MTe2 (M = d-electron metal) family has emerged as a unique series of isostructural compounds exhibiting superconductivity across a range of 3d, 4d, and 5d electron systems. 

In this study, muon spin rotation, neutron diffraction, and magnetization techniques are employed to probe ...

Marc Janoschek

Prof. Dr. Marc Janoschek appointed new Head of the PSI Center for Neutron and Muon Sciences (CNM)

Prof. Dr. Marc Janoschek will take over as Head of the PSI Center for Neutron and Muon Sciences (CNM) on 1 June 2025.

Park et al

Spin density wave and van Hove singularity in the kagome metal CeTi3Bi4

Kagome metals with van Hove singularities near the Fermi level can host intriguing quantum phenomena such as chiral loop currents, electronic nematicity, and unconventional superconductivity. However, to our best knowledge, unconventional magnetic states driven by van Hove singularities–like spin-density waves–have not been observed experimentally in kagome metals. Here, we report ...

Mirzaei et al

4D imaging of frost heave and ice lens growth in silt using neutron and x-ray computed tomography

There are substantial changes in soil structure in regions where the soil is freezing. Water movements in the freezing soil introduce level changes beyond what can be expected by the expansion of water when it freezes. The impact of frost heave is seasonal damage to our built environment ...

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Swiss Spallation Neutron Source SINQ

Neutron scattering techniques are highly versatile and powerful tools for studying the structure and dynamics of condensed matter. A wide scope of problems, ranging from fundamental to solid state physics and chemistry, and from materials science to biology, medicine and environmental science, can be investigated with neutrons. In addition to scattering, non-diffractive methods like imaging techniques allows for non-destructive inspection of materials and components, providing information on their internal structure, composition, and integrity with growing relevance also for industrial applications.
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Synoptic quantum many body methodology of corre-lated electron systems

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The CNM center hosts 300 members of staff, in addition 40 PhD students perform their thesis work within CNM

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The center is organized in 5 laboratories and 1 staff group.

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Paul Scherrer Institut
Center for Neutron and Muon Sciences CNM

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5232 Villigen PSI
Switzerland