Here you find current and previous news from the PSI Center for Neutron and Muon Sciences.
More light in the darkness
At PSI, researchers want to fill the missing gaps in the Standard Model of particle physics with the help of the large research facilities.
Further optimising car brakes
Research scientists at PSI and ANAXAM use neutrons to look inside brake callipers and identify potential ways of reducing CO2 emissions.
A two-part upgrade for the proton accelerator
A two-part upgrade is planned for HIPA starting in 2025. Preparations are already under way.
Appointment of Thomas Lippert as new head of the Laboratory for Multiscale Materials Experiments (LMX)
Starting 1. December 2022, Prof. Dr. Dr. Thomas Lippert will be the new head of the Laboratory for Multiscale Materials Experiments (LMX). He follows Prof. Dr. Laura Heyderman, our first laboratory head who successfully formed and established the LMX in the PSI landscape as a Centre of Materials.
The Laboratory for Neutron and Muon Instruments visits FRM II neutron research facility
Recently, the staff of the PSI’s Laboratory for Neutron and Muon Instrumentation (LIN) visited our colleagues at MLZ to learn more about the FRM II reactor and its instrumentation, as well as to discuss current and future joint projects. LIN staff was greeted with Bavarian hospitality in the form of “Weisswurst Frühstück” and then enjoyed a full tour of the facility and many fruitful discussions.
Kinderuniversität Zürich visits PSI
On November 5, 2022, the Laboratory for Neutron and Muon Instrumentation in collaboration with the Correlated Quantum Matter group at the University of Zurich carried out the workshop “Wellenspiele” (German for “Playing with Waves”) for the Kinderuniversität Zürich (“Children’s University Zurich”) for the first time.
Harald Ita appointed Associate Professor ad personam at University of Zurich
Harald Ita, currently senior scientist at the Laboratory for Particle Physics at NUM/PSI was appointed as Associate Professor ad personam at UZH Zurich. Harald is an international acclaimed researcher in the field of theoretical high-energy particle physics.
Silver Medal in Electronics for Mario Liechti
PSI electronics technician Mario Liechti comes in second place at the world championships for non-academic professions.
The gold medal and a handshake from the Federal Councillor
SwissSkills names PSI electronics technician Melvin Deubelbeiss the best apprenticeship graduate in his field.
Artur Glavic received the first Instrumentation Price Neutron Research
Artur Glavic received the first Instrumentation Price Neutron Research “for his significant contributions to the development and construction of novel neutron reflectometers”.
Neutron scattering collaboration with Norwegian Institute for Energy Technology
A collaboration between the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE) and the Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI) provides dedicated beam-time to Norwegian scientists, bringing with them diverse and exciting topics ranging from revealing hidden inscriptions in amulets to neutron based cancer therapies.
Stephan Allenspach received the SNSS Young Scientists Prize
Congratulations to Stephan Allenspach for receiving the Young Scientist Prize of the Swiss Neutron Scattering Society for his outstanding PhD thesis. Stephan did his PhD in the Quantum Criticality and Dynamics Group lead by Christian Rüegg.
Seeking the sensational on a small scale
The Swiss Research Magazine 'Horizons' features particle physics performed at PSI.
Hercules and batteries, X-rayed
Developments of the MIXE technique at PSI
With muons, PSI researchers can examine objects non-destructively. This helps in archaeology and battery development.
SANS-LLB at PSI: keeping up with the soft matter community needs
The shutdown of the Orphée reactor at LLB (Saclay, France) and the upgrade of the SINQ neutron guide system at PSI (Villigen, Switzerland) in 2019 were the beginning of a long-term collaboration between PSI and LLB. The SANS-LLB instrument, formerly known as PA20, has travelled more than 500 km, and since 2020 is being installed at SINQ/PSI as a collaborative effort between PSI and LLB. The aim is to make a modern SANS instrument available to the soft matter neutron scattering community at the SINQ spallation source.
A look into the magnetic future
PSI researchers are the first to observe a specific behaviour of magnetic ice.
Two million Swiss francs granted to search for new physics
Philipp Schmidt-Wellenburg will set up a novel experiment at a muon beamline at PSI.
Aldo Antognini Adjunct Professor at ETHZ
Aldo Antognini, currently lecturer and senior scientist at both ETH Zurich and the Laboratory for Particle Physics at NUM/PSI was awarded the title of Adjunct Professor at ETH Zurich.
High-performance detector for DMC enters hot commissioning phase
The cold neutron diffractometer DMC at SINQ is currently undergoing major upgrades. After the recent replacement of the cold neutron guide as part of the SINQ upgrade program, the installation of the new high-performance 2D position-sensitive detector successfully entered the hot commissioning phase.
The world’s most powerful neutron microscope
PSI scientists help construct the new European Spallation Source ESS
The world’s most powerful neutron microscope
Researchers from the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI in Villigen have delivered a key component for the ESTIA reflectometer at the European Spallation Source ESS based in Lund, Sweden. When it comes into service in 2026, ESS will be the world’s most powerful neutron source. Switzerland is making a vital contribution to the project. Scientists from across the globe will use ESS instruments to study processes and structures on the atomic scale, advancing materials research to a new level.
The link between theory and experiment
Without fundamental constants there is no physics.
Silver medal at the EuroSkills
Silver medal for Mario Liechti at the EuroSkills in Graz, Austria.
CHRISP — All the key results in one place
A specialSciPost volume, entitled “Review of Particle Physics at PSI”, has recently been completed.
SINQ - performance of the new neutron guide system
In a recent open access article in "Neutron News" the performance of the new neutron delivery system after the SINQ upgrade has been described. Neutron flux gain factors between 2 and more than 10 have been measured at the various cold neutron instruments at SINQ.....
First Components of ESTIA arrive at ESS
The European Spallation Source (ESS) is currently under construction in Lund, Sweden and is set to become the most powerful neutron source in Europe and world-wide. The PSI-ESS project is delivering state-of-the-art contributions to five instruments at ESS, which will be home to a suite of 15 novel instruments. Among the five PSI instruments, the reflectometer ESTIA stands out as it is delivered in its entirety by PSI ...
Magnetic nanoworld
At PSI, researchers come across exotic phenomena such as frustrated magnets and nano-vortices, which may one day enable better data storage.
Water and quantum magnets share critical physics
At high pressure, liquid water and water vapour merge together – the phase boundary disappears. Researchers have now discovered a similar behaviour in a quantum magnet.
Hercules School 2021 at PSI
During the week of March 15 – 19, we had the pleasure to welcome 20 international PhD students, PostDocs and assistant professors at PSI, taking part in the first virtual Hercules School on Neutrons & Synchrotron Radiation.
The Swiss research infrastructure for particle physics CHRISP
Researchers are looking for deviations in the current standard model of physics and want to find out how our universe is constructed.