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Training on the use of muons at ISIS (13/01/2010)
Applications are now welcome for the ISIS Muon Training School. This School will happen from 23-28 May 2010. The deadline for applications is 26 February 2010.
The School is suitable for post-graduate or post-doctoral workers who will be using muons for a significant amount of their research. It will consist of lectures in the principles and applications of the muon technique, together with the chance to perform two experiments on ISIS muon instruments.
The ISIS Pulsed Source, at the STFC’s Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL), is home to the world’s most intense beam of pulsed muons for condensed matter investigations.
The School is part-funded by NMI3, through the Networking activity.
Further details, including how to apply, can be found on the ISIS Website
Lecture notes from previous training courses are available ISIS MUON Website | 
Picture Courtesy ISIS - STFC’s Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) |
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Magnetricity observed and measured for the first time at ISIS (02/11/2009)
A magnetic charge can behave and interact just like an electric charge in some materials, according to new research conducted at STFC’s ISIS facility and led by the London Centre for Nanotechnology (LCN) which could lead to a reassessment of current magnetism theories, as well as significant technological advances.
The research, published today in Nature, proves the existence of atom-sized ‘magnetic charges’ that behave and interact just like more familiar electric charges. It also demonstrates a perfect symmetry between electricity and magnetism – a phenomenon dubbed ‘magnetricity' by the authors from the LCN and the Science and Technology Facility Council’s ISIS Neutron and Muon Source .
In order to prove experimentally the existence of magnetic current for the first time, the team mapped Onsager's 1934 theory of the movement of ions in water onto magnetic currents in a material called spin ice. They then tested the theory by applying a magnetic field to a spin ice sample at a very low temperature and observing the process using muons at ISIS.
The experiment allowed the team to detect magnetic charges in the spin ice (Dy2Ti2O7), to measure their currents, and to determine the elementary unit of the magnetic charge in the material. The monopoles they observed arise as disturbances of the magnetic state of the spin ice, and can exist only inside the material.
Professor Steve Bramwell, LCN co-author of the paper, said: “Magnetic monopoles were first predicted to exist in 1931, but despite many searches, they have never yet been observed as freely roaming elementary particles. These monopoles do at least exist within the spin ice sample, but not outside.
"It is not often in the field of physics you get the chance to ask 'How do you measure something?' and then go on to prove a theory unequivocally. This is a very important step to establish that magnetic charge can flow like electric charge. It is in the early stages, but who knows what the applications of magnetricity could be in 100 years time."
Professor Keith Mason, Chief Executive of STFC said; “The unequivocal proof that magnetic charge is conducted in spin ice add significantly to our understanding of electromagnetism. Whilst we will have to wait to see what applications magnetricity will find in technology, this research shows that curiosity driven research will always have the potential to make an impact on the way we live and work. Advanced materials research depends greatly on having access to central research labs like ISIS allowing the UK science community to flourish and make exciting discoveries like this”
Dr Sean Giblin, instrument scientist at ISIS and co-author of the paper, added: “The results were astounding, using muons at ISIS we are finally able to confirm that magnetic charge really is conducted through certain materials at certain temperatures – just like the way ions conduct electricity in water.”
Press release Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Contacts: Lucy Stone - Press Officer |  |
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First data on the new ISIS muon spectrometer HiFi (30/09/2009)
HiFi has been built as the result of a facility development grant awarded to the ISIS and Oxford University muon groups. It has an order of magnitude greater applied field than previously available on ISIS muon instruments, opening up new science areas for study using muons at ISIS. First data from the instrument is a significant project milestone, and the result of several years of effort by the team responsible for design and construction of the new instrument.
More information on the ISIS muon Website
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Text and Pciture courtesy of ISIS STFC) |
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PSI is looking for an Experimental Physicist for the Bulk-µSR Facilities group at the Laboratory for Muon Spin Spectroscopy
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2008 Yamazaki Prize: Deadline for nominations is 28 February (15/01/08)
Nominations are now open for the 2008 Yamazaki Prize, to be awarded at the International Conference on µSR at Tsukuba, Japan, 21-25 July 2008. The deadline for nominations is 28 February 2008. For details see ISMS Newsletter #6
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The next International Conference on Muon Spin Rotation, Relaxation and esonance will be held in Japan (15/01/08)
The next International Conference on Muon Spin Rotation, Relaxation and Resonance will be held in Tsukuba, Japan, 21-25th July 2008.
This will be the 11th in the series of conferences that are held every three years and that cover all aspects of the theory, practice, and applications of muon spectroscopy in molecular, condensed matter, and materials science. The 2008 conference is being jointly organized by the KEK Muon Science Laboratory, RIKEN Nishina Center, and JAEA Advanced Science Research Center.
The deadline for abstract submission is 11 April 2008.
More information: μSR2008
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PSI is looking for a scientist within the field of condensed matter (29/10/07)
We are looking for ...an active and recognized scientist within the field of condensed matter research using neutrons and/or muons as probes. PSI in Switzerland has an opening as head of the Laboratory for Methods and Development (LDM). LDM has a staff of approximately 30 and is responsible for the development, design and maintenance of instrumentation and sample environment for neutron scattering and muon spectroscopy at PSI. The candidate must have experience leading projects and inspiring mixed groups of scientists, engineers and technical staff, have excellent communication skills in English and/or German and a service minded and team oriented personality.
For further information please contact Kurt Clausen and PSI pages
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Proceedings of the international muon conference held in august last year in oxford are now available (07/04/06)
The proceedings of the International Muon Conference held in August last year in Oxford are now available - they can be found on the Physica B website . They include 128 publications across the wide range of science areas that the muon technique is applied to.
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169 researchers from 17 countries at the International Conference on Muon Spin Rotation, Relaxation and Resonance.
The 10th International Conference on Muon Spin Rotation, Relaxation and Resonance was jointly organised by the ISIS and Oxford University muon groups, and took place in Oxford at St. Anne’s College and the University Physics Department from 8-12th August 2005. It was preceded by an afternoon of lectures held at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory aimed at giving students an introduction to the muon technique, and followed by a 2-day workshop on pulsed muon methods organised by Steve Cottrell from ISIS.
The conference was attended by 169 researchers (with a further 24 accompanying persons) from a total of 17 countries, 37 of whom registered as students. 200 abstracts were submitted, and around 50 oral presentations were given on the wide range of condensed matter, molecular and chemical systems to which the muon technique can be applied. Invited speakers from outside the community of muon users included John Chalker (Oxford, frustrated magnetism - theory), Ian Carmichael (Notre Dame, muonium chemistry), Nigel Hussey (Bristol, cuprates), Andrew Boothroyd (Oxford, cobaltates), Bruce Gaulin (McMaster, frustrated magnetism – experiment), Paolo Santini (Parma, magnetic molecules), Hideo Aoki (Tokyo, theory of superconductivity), and Stefan Estreicher (Lubbock, semiconductors).
The pulsed techniques workshop attracted around 50 participants who were able to discuss a variety of developments relating to sample or muon stimulation by pulsed light, B-fields, E-fields or RF, techniques very relevant to next-generation muon facilities and instruments.
The conference saw the first presentation of the International Society for Muon Spectroscopy (ISMS) Yamazaki Prize, named after Professor Toshimitsu Yamazaki, one of the pioneers of the application of muon measurements to solid state physics. The prize was awarded to Professor Yasutomo Uemura of Columbia University for his outstanding work using the muon technique in studies of magnetism and, in particular, superconductivity over the past 33 years. In addition, lifetime achievement medals were awarded by the ISMS to Steve Cox (ISIS and University College London, UK), Jess Brewer (TRIUMF and University of British Columbia, Canada), Ken Nagmine (KEK, Japan), and Alex Schenck (PSI and ETH-Zurich, Switzerland) for their pioneering work in establishing the ISIS, TRIUMF, KEK and PSI muon facilities. The ISMS also gave four prizes to young researchers presenting outstanding work at the conference.
The Conference was very successful both scientifically and practically – and many thanks are due to all those who were involved in its organisation, particularly the members of the local organising committee for all their hard work. The proceedings from the meeting will be published in Physica B in Spring 2006.
Details can be found at Official µSR05 Conference Page
All aspects of the theory, practice and applications of muon spectroscopy in molecular, condensed matter and materials science. Topics to include muon studies of magnetism, superconductivity, organics, semiconductors, chemistry and charge transport, as well as muon techniques and facility developments. | Click on the picture to enlarge it.
Attendees at the 10th International Muon Conference held in Oxford in August.
More pictures on the Conference pages
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Workshop on high pressure muon techniques at PSI on 25 January 2006 (14/11/05)
A workshop is being organised at PSI on high pressure muon techniques on 25 January 2005.
The aims of the Workshop are:
• to review and assess recent important technical developments of high-pressure sample environments for µSR studies.
• to present typical new scientific results obtained recently by high-pressure µSR studies
• to identify novel reseach activities possible with the combination of extreme conditions (as high-pressure and very low temperatures)
• to identify new technical development paths toward the availability of higher pressures
• to create the basis for decentralized but coordinated network activities for the realisation of improved high-pressure sample environments for µSR studies.
Further information on the PSI pages
This meeting is being partly sponsored by NMI3.
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Ł2m for the development of a new muon spectrometer on the ISIS facility.
Press Release CCLRC Wednesday 29 June 2005 Many areas of scientific research will benefit from investment of Ł6M to develop the UK's large-scale research facilities.Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils
Scientists from the UK and around the world will benefit from Ł6M grant awards for large-scale science research facilities. This significant investment will ensure that the world-leading Council for Central Laboratories of the Research Councils' (CCLRC) large facilities will remain internationally competitive and capable of providing the technological infrastructure necessary for UK and international scientists to probe materials deeper, faster and more accurately than ever before.
Eight research grants have been awarded to collaborative teams led by academics from UK universities and the CCLRC. Awards have been determined by the peer-reviewed quality of the proposals to create new research opportunities and to introduce new research communities to the CCLRC facilities - the Central Laser Facility (CLF), the ISIS pulsed neutron and muon source and the Synchrotron Radiation Source (SRS).
The largest award is Ł2m for the development of a new muon spectrometer on the ISIS facility. "Muons are a fascinating way of exploring materials. They only live for two-millionths of a second, but that's long enough to give us unique insights into atoms and molecules," said project leader Dr. Philip King from the CCLRC ISIS facility. The new instrument will significantly widen the range of experiments we can make on new organic materials and on semiconductors used by the electronics industry....
Read the full document on the CCLRC pages
A call for expressions of interest for the third round of the CCLRC Facility Development Grant Scheme has just been launched. Information is available on the Facility Development page. The closing date is 27 July 2005.
Information about the new spectrometer for the ISIS Muon Facility on the ISIS Muon pages
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ISMS-Europe: the representative organization for European muon users
The International Society of µSR Spectroscopy (ISMS)-Europe is now the representative organization for European muon users. Representatives from nine European countries met recently to approve the statues of the new body, with Robert Cywinski (University of Leeds, UK) as the ISMS-E chair. ISMS-E is part of the larger, worldwide International Society for µSR Spectroscopy.
From left to righ:
Thomas Prokscha (PSI, Switzerland),
Philip King (ISIS, UK),
Pierre Dalmas de Reotier (CEA-Grenoble, France),
Paul Gubbens (Delft, The Netherlands),
Jochan Litterst (Braunschweig, Germany),
Bob Cywinski (Leeds, UK),
Alex Lappas (Heraklion, Greece),
Sue Kilcoyne (Leeds, UK),
Roberto De Renzi (Parma, Italy),
Jose Garcia-Muńoz (Barcelona, Spain),
Dierk Herlach (PSI, Switzerland),
Joao Gil (Coimbra, Portugal).
More information about the ISMS on the ISMS-E pages on the European Neutron - Muon Portal.
Official Web page of the International Society of µSR Spectroscopy: ISMS | 
ISMS Inaugural meeting, Villigen Switzerland |
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ISMS Toshimitsu Yamazaki Prize for µSR Science
The ISMS announces a call for nominations for the First ISMS Toshimitsu Yamazaki Prize for µSR Science .
This $3000 prize is made available by the ISMS every three years to any scientist for outstanding, sustained work in µSR science with long-term impact on scientific and/or technical µSR applications. The 2005 prize will be awarded at a special ceremony session of the International Conference on µSR, to be held in Oxford, UK.
More information on the ISMS offiical Webpage.
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Looking for information about What can I do with muons?
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Now you can contribute to a unique review of the UK's requirements for future neutron facilities (20/01/05)
Scientists from around the UK are being invited to input their views on the development of a strategy for future access to neutron facilities. The CCLRC (Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils) has been commissioned by the Minister for Science and Innovation to produce a strategy for ensuring continued access for the UK research community to world-class neutron facilities.
Those registering on the CCLRC consultation web site will be able to contribute to this unique review of the UK's requirements for future neutron facilities via a consultation questionnaire (on or off line). They will also have the opportunity to participate in a 'discussion forum' which will open during the course of the review. |
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Supported by the EU through FP5, FP6 and FP7