PSI Center for Neutron and Muon Sciences

Chiral crystals, whose key feature is the structural handedness, host exotic quantum phenomena driven by the interplay of band topology, spin-orbit coupling (SOC), and electronic correlations. Due to the limited availability of suitable chiral-crystal materials, their unconventional superconductivity (SC) remains largely unexplored. 

Here, the discovery ... 

The discovery of the axial amplitude mode—commonly referred to as the Higgs mode—in charge density wave systems, such as rare-earth tritellurides, indicates the presence of a hidden order. A theoretical study proposed that this axial Higgs mode arises from a hidden orbital texture of the charge density wave, which produces a ferroaxial charge order.

However, experimental evidence ... 

The recent discovery of a Kondo condensate in phosphorus-doped silicon (Si:P) presents its significant potential for achieving novel many-body quantum states. Si:P exhibits Kondo condensation, characterized by an energy gap in the electronic density of states, while the precise nature of its magnetic state has yet to be determined. 

Here, we utilize ...

Nanocellulose is a promising alternative to fossil-derived materials, but its development is hindered by a limited understanding of cellulose–water interactions. Herein, quasielastic neutron scattering (QENS) is used to investigate how hydration and temperature affect the localized rotations in cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and the diffusion of mobile water. QENS reveals ...

Fast neutron imaging is a promising technique for visualizing objects containing dense, mixed light-and-heavy-elements materials, such as combustion engines, nuclear fuel assemblies, and fossils, where X-rays and thermal neutrons are ineffectiv. However, the limited efficiency of current detection technologies hinders their widespread adoption. Recoil proton detection ...