LNS: Laboratory for Neutron Scattering and Imaging
The Laboratory for Neutron Scattering and Imaging (LNS) at the Paul Scherrer Institute is responsible for the scientific exploitation, operation and development of neutron scattering and imaging instruments at the Swiss Spallation Neutron Source (SINQ). The team of 50 senior scientists, postdoctoral researchers and PhD students further collaborates on diverse research projects ranging from modern topics in condensed matter physics and materials science to pressing questions in energy research and health care. read morePhD, Master, Bachelor or Semester projects at the LNS
We offer students the possibility to do their PhD or educational research in our lab. See Teaching and Education for detailed information on Master/Diploma thesis, Bachelor/Semester work and practical courses at the LNS. Currently we have open positions for- Semester projects on several topics
- Master project - Elastic properties in low dimensional quantum systems
- Master project - Spontaneous magnon decay in non-collinear antiferromagnets
- Master project - Geometrical magnetic frustration beyond insulating ionic compounds
- Master project - Magnetic order in anisotropic triangular materials
- Master project - Magnetic structure of the quantum trimer compound Cs3Cu3Cl8OH
News
28. July 2017
4-spin plaquette singlet state in the Shastry–Sutherland compound SrCu2(BO3)2
M.E. Zayed et al., Nature Physics, adv. online publication (July 2017). The study of interacting spin systems is of fundamental importance for modern condensed-matter physics. On frustrated lattices, magnetic exchange interactions cannot be simultaneously satisfied, and often give rise to competing exotic ground states. The frustrated two-dimensional Shastry–Sutherland lattice realized by SrCu2(BO3)2 is an important test to our understanding of quantum magnetism. It was constructed to have an exactly solvable 2-spin dimer singlet ground state within a certain range of exchange parameters and frustration. While the exact dimer state and the antiferromagnetic order at both ends of the phase diagram are well known, the ground state and spin correlations in the intermediate frustration range have been widely debated. We report here the first experimental identification of the conjectured plaquette singlet intermediate phase in SrCu2(BO3)2. It is observed by inelastic neutron scattering after pressure tuning at 21.5kbar. This gapped singlet state leads to a transition to an ordered Neel state above 40 kbar, which can realize a deconfined quantum critical point.1. July 2017
Michel Kenzelmann new head of the LNS
Prof. Dr. Michel Kenzelmann has been appointed as new head of the Laboratory for Neutron Scattering and Imaging LNS starting on July 1, 2017. Michel received his Ph.D. from the University of Oxford before he moved to NIST and John Hopkins University as postdoctoral fellow. In 2004 he joined PSI as an SNF Professor and became head of the NUM laboratory LDM in 2008. Since 2014 Michel holds a titular professorship at the University of Basel. The NUM department also thanks Christof Niedermayer cordially for leading the laboratory ad interim for the last six months.6. June 2017
Field-induced magnetic instability within a superconducting condensate
D. Mazzone et al., Science Advances 3, e1602055 (2017). The application of magnetic fields, chemical substitution, or hydrostatic pressure to strongly correlated electron materials can stabilize electronic phases with different organizational principles. We present evidence for a field-induced quantum phase transition, in superconducting Nd0.05Ce0.95CoIn5, that separates two antiferromagnetic phases with identical magnetic symmetry. At zero field, we find a spin-density wave that is suppressed at the critical field μ0H* = 8 T. For H > H*, a spin-density phase emerges and shares many properties with the Q phase in CeCoIn5. These results suggest that the magnetic instability is not magnetically driven, and we propose that it is driven by a modification of superconducting condensate at H*.18. April 2017
