News

Turbine manufacture often pushes conventional processes to their limits. That is why complex, curved components with intricate structures are increasingly produced using 3D printing. There are a range of test methods to find defects inside components. A research team from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has now examined a number of methods in use. The best error detection rate achieved neutrons at the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz research neutron source (FRM II).

The Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ) has presented this year’s prize for instrumentation and scientific use just over the fence. The laureate, Prof. Dr. Peter Böni from the Physics Department of the Technical University of Munich (TUM), has built five scientific instruments at FRM II and MLZ.

70 children and 139 adults enjoyed a guided tour of the research neutron source FRM II today. On the Open House and Door-Opening-Day of the “Sendung mit der Maus” program, they took a look inside the reactor hall and learned more about science with neutrons.

Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have succeeded in demonstrating the existence of a novel nanoswitch with the aid of neutrons. In addition to the on and off function previously known for nanoswitches, this switch can be brought into a third stable standby state. The discovery could help develop new sensors or make it easier to dose chemical substances.

Lower energy consumption and new functions in semiconductor technology promises the new two-dimensional material. Researchers at Forschungszentrum Jülich have discovered new properties in quantum mechanics, together with team members from Germany, France and China. They achieved this with the future technology of magnonics.

Scientists at Forschungszentrum Jülich and Donghua University in Shanghai, China, have demonstrated a skin-like synthetic material intended to advance the development of so-called “wearables”, as well as smart clothing and artificial skin for robots. Neutrons from the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz research neutron source helped them to study the new material in detail.

On September 1, the GNeuS program was officially launched at the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ). The project, funded by the European Union, offers a total of 45 fellowships to train a new generation of excellent neutron researchers.

Girls and young women experienced the world of natural sciences firsthand at the research neutron source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II). As one of a total of 17 projects, the course “Flight, Materials, Radiation” brought together eight TUM explorers from all over Bavaria.

Gas turbines must endure extreme conditions like high forces at temperatures above 600°C. Gas turbine materials therefore must be sufficiently robust, and as such they are under constant development. Together with the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), VDM Metals International GmbH tested its improved VDM Alloy 780 using a specially developed testing machine at the Research Neutron Source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II).

It has been long debated whether the ideal glass exists. Now, a group of physicists from Spain has succeeded in producing the ideal glass and relating it to observations with inelastic neutron scattering at MLZ.

Who would want to drink residues of detergents or medicines? Researchers from Belgium and the Netherlands used positrons, the antiparticles of electrons, at the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum to study membranes designed to filter precisely such micropollutants from wastewater.

When metallic objects change their shape seemingly without any external influence and only according to the will of their owners, this at first sounds like something only comic superheroes like Magneto and Ironman could do. However, the idea from those comics has a real-world manifestation in existing materials called magnetic shape memory alloys (MSMAs). Moreover, they have potential applications e.g. in robotics or medical devices.

Who has not experienced this: Once a doctoral student has finished and leaves the research group, much data are also effectively lost? A new consortium is working to ensure that this no longer happens in the future by making research data more accessible and sustainable. DAta from PHoton and Neutron Experiments (DAPHNE4NFDI) will be funded for five years as part of the National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI).

A team of German and Dutch scientists synthesized a series of substances, which show bright luminescence under UV light. Therefore the amount of hydrogen in the structure determines the wavelength – and hence the color – of the emitted light. These compounds could be used as illuminants in LEDs or for chemical hydrogen storage.

Under the slogan “Neutrons for Life Sciences”, this year’s MLZ Conference took place from 08 – 11 June 2021. More than 200 scientists from 24 countries registered for the event and contributed to a lively and diverse digital exchange on neutron research in biology, biophysics, pharmacology and medicine.

Biocompatible iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) offer great potential for biomedical applications, both in terms of imaging and therapy. More rapid progress in researching IONPs now looks promising by using a new method combination developed by a team of Jülich researchers using neutrons at the MLZ as a probe.

Significant amounts of antibiotic residues and pathogens enter the environment via our wastewater. A German Italian team of researchers has now investigated a novel nanomaterial that has an antibacterial effect and can bind antibiotics at the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum. Wastewater could thus be treated more effectively and safely.

Depressive disorders are among the most frequent illnesses worldwide. The causes are complex and to date only partially understood. The trace element lithium appears to play a role. Using neutrons of the research neutron source at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), a research team has now proved that the distribution of lithium in the brains of depressive people is different from the distribution found in healthy humans.

Scientists at Jülich, together with their international colleagues, have now shed light on the switching mechanism of an oxide-based synthetic antiferromagnet. They also showed how this material could enable vertical data transfer, thus making it possible to develop three-dimensional storage elements with high data density. The researchers conducted their studies with the help of the neutron reflectometer MARIA, operated by the Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS) at the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ) in Garching, along with similar instruments in other European neutron facilities.

Atoms, neutrons, radiation – All three can neither be seen, nor smelled, nor tasted. And yet the scientists at the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ) at the Research Neutron Source (FRM II) in Garching near Munich work with them every day. On April 22nd the virtual Girls’Day enabled 15 girls from all over Germany to experience what the everyday life of a scientist is like and what atoms, neutrons, and radiation actually are.

Scientists from the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, with the support of neutrons at the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ), have now discovered how the subcutaneous administration of mRNA can be improved. For this, the small angle scattering diffractometer KWS-2 at MLZ was used. The goal is for chronically ill patients to be able to self-administer the medication on a regular basis.

He knew the Atomic Egg when it was still in its early stages and showed great commitment to the FRM II research neutron source: On March 19, 2021, Dr. Hans Boysen died at the age of 76.

3D printing has opened up a completely new range of possibilities, including for example production of turbine buckets. However, the 3D printing process often induces internal stress in these components which can in the worst case lead to cracks. Now a research team has succeeded in using neutrons from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) research neutron source reactor for non-destructive detection of this internal stress – a key achievement for the improvement of the production processes.

Mountains of plastic waste are a global problem. The search for packaging alternatives is in full steam. At the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz research neutron source, a team of researchers has now studied the gas permeability of new types of biopolymers, with the help of antimatter.

Proteins actually need water to perform their function. Looking more closely with neutrons, researchers have observed that it can also be done without water and how the oxygen-transporting muscle protein myoglobin moves in that case. Their results have now been published in the renowned journal Physical Review Letters.

Eco-friendly flying is on the horizon. All over the world, researchers are developing new technologies to achieve this goal. One focus of developments is the idea of using hydrogen-powered engines for aircraft in the future. The aircraft companies, though, face the challenge of storing this energy source. Hydrogen turns liquid when cooled to minus 253 degrees Celsius, and only then can it be used as a so-called cryogenic fuel. Both tanks and pipe systems in the aircraft have to be absolutely tight at such low temperatures. An innovative new welding process can help to fulfill these requirement: magnetic pulse welding. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS in Dresden have now demonstrated that this joining technology can produce extremely resilient, metallic mixed joints for cryogenic applications. They successfully achieved these outstanding joint properties in cooperation with the Technical University of Munich.

When a rocket is launched, the weld seams on the enormous fuel tanks must withstand immense forces. To produce joints with the necessary strength, a process known as “friction stir welding” is used. Scientists at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) are working to make this process more efficient. They are using positrons generated by the Research Neutron Source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II) to precisely localize “atomic holes” in the material.

Today, the namesake of the research neutron source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II) and the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ) would have turned 110 years old. As the “father of the atomic egg” in Garching and founder of the international research institute Laue-Langevin (ILL) in Grenoble, Heinz Maier-Leibnitz shaped modern neutron research like no one else.

Nanoparticles can be found in pharmaceuticals, catalysts, and even TVs. Researchers at the chemical company Merck, the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), and the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE) used neutrons at MLZ to study colloidal nanoparticles. They are particularly well suited for converting electrical signals into light or, vice versa, light into electricity.

The three partners of the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum will start to train 45 post docs in autumn 2021. The European Union (EU) is funding the project over its five-year duration with € 3.3 million. The three leading partners are investing a further € 5 million.

BioNTech, the Mainz-based biotechnology company which together with the US pharmaceutical company Pfizer developed the first Covid-19 vaccine approved in the EU, is also working with the Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS) on vaccine development. Researcher used the instrument KWS-2 operated by the JCNS at the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum.

While ice skating, a thin liquid film forms on ice surfaces. This, along with other causes, is responsible for ice slipperiness. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research have now investigated a related effect at interfaces between ice and porous clay minerals. Such interfaces are found in nature for example in permafrost. The results may help to better understand changes in frozen soils as temperatures rise.

Almost 200 viewers followed Dr. Johanna Jochum’s lecture via livestream on Tuesday, March 2. The MLZ scientist gave her lecture in the series “Science for Everyone” at the Deutsches Museum on “Dance of the electrons: Superconductors and their Application.”

Electricity from windowpanes sounds like science fiction at first, but it is an application that is possible with organic solar cells. To better understand the active layer of organic solar cells, a team of scientists from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) studied the dynamic behaviour of the active layer at MLZ.

If a component is to be tight and robust, it should be welded. Simulations determine the properties of the weld in advance. To optimize the simulated calculation models for the French electricity company Électricité de France (EDF), a team of researchers at MLZ measured stress in a component after welding.

In our smartphones, our computers and in our electric cars: We use rechargeable lithium-ion batteries everywhere. But their capacity drops after a while. Now a German-American research team has investigated the structure and functionality of these batteries using neutron diffraction: They discovered that the electrolyte fluid’s decomposition products capture mobile lithium in the battery and that the distribution of lithium within the cell is surprisingly uneven.

MLZ instrument scientist Dr. Thomas Keller received the most votes in the election for the 12th Committee Research with Neutrons (KFN). In December 2020, the outgoing chairmen Dr. Astrid Schneidewind and Prof. Dr. Markus Braden passed the baton to the new chairs Prof. Dr. Frank Schreiber (KFN chair) and Prof. Dr. Susan Schorr (vice chair).

Scientists at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have developed a new cell design for lithium-ion batteries for material characterization. The “battery with windows” makes it possible, using neutron scattering, to measure the lithium concentration within an electrode as a function of depth during charging and discharging. The new technique can help to elucidate both the reaction mechanisms and aging phenomena in batteries.

Since January, Prof. Dr. Martin Müller has been the new director at the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ), succeeding Prof. Dr. Stephan Förster in the role. A materials physicist, he now represents the Helmholtz partners Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ) and Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht (HZG) in the Scientific Directorate of the MLZ. By rotation, Martin Müller will also be the spokesman of the directorate for a period of two years.

When the charity organisation NAVIS e.V. called for a donation for a newly established fire department in Hungary, the management of the FRM II research neutron source was eager to help by donating 16 firefighting outfits for this cause.

Presentations, intensive exchange and stimulating discussions made up the 10th Serpent User Group Meeting. 174 participants from 28 countries came together virtually at MLZ to exchange information about the “Serpent” software used for modelling the neutron physics and behaviour of nuclear reactors.

Reason to celebrate at MLZ: With their work on a new material for power plant turbines, scientists won the award for the best publication in the “International Journal of Materials Research” of 2019.

The Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum has given itself a new slogan: “Neutrons for Research and Innovation” is what the cooperation between the Technical University of Munich (TUM), Forschungszentrum Jülich and Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht (HZG) makes available to visiting scientists from all over the world. This was announced by MLZ spokesperson, Prof. Dr. Peter Müller-Buschbaum, on the occasion of the annual User Meeting in front of more than one hundred participants.

At the end of 2019, the neutron source used for materials research at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) was shut down as planned. Now the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ) in Munich is taking over two scientific instruments from the HZB. The Federal Ministry of Science and Research (BMBF) is funding the relocation and adaptation with 5.62 million euros.

Under normal conditions, the 405 registered participants of the MLZ User Meeting and the DN2020 would have met at a conference hotel in Munich downtown between Dec. 8th-10th. But there was no thought of a cancellation due to the corona pandemic and therefore, MLZ and the KFN (Komitee für Forschung mit Neutronen) decided to switch to purely virtual events.

Dr. Sabrina Disch is the winner of the Wolfram-Prandl-Prize 2020 for young scientists. The German Committee Research with Neutrons (KFN) awarded the prize on the occasion of the German Conference Neutron Scattering Conference (DN2020) today, organized by the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum together with the MLZ User Meeting.

If the fuel element is the heart of the reactor, then the control room is its brain. It is where the reactor operators sit monitoring and controlling all processes. In September, reactor operators and shift supervisors of the Isar nuclear power plant (KKI) visited the research neutron source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II) to exchange information with their colleagues on site.

Scientists of the Technical University Munich (TUM) and the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) in Munich investigated frustrated quantum magnets with neutron scattering at the MLZ. They published their results in the prominent journal “Annalen der Physik” – a showcase for luminaries such as Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen, Max Planck, Albert Einstein, and Erwin Schrödinger, who also published their results here.

Portuguese scientists have analyzed lichens from areas with traditional charcoal production for the first time with the help of the Research Neutron Source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II) of the Technical University of Munich (TUM). Lichens located near areas of charcoal production contained more than twice the concentration of phosphorus, which is generated during the combustion process.

Before the current crisis, a mini-school for budding physicists was planned and organized by scientists at the Technical University of Munich and Charles University – a cooperation project funded by the Bayerisch-Tschechischen Hochschulagentur. But as it has turned out, Corona forced the event to be held in a virtual format. The silver lining is that this format allowed a larger number of people from around the world to participate.

Cultural artefacts such as murals or buildings made of calcareous material can often suffer significant damage from unavoidable exposure to various elements in their surrounding environment. Material referred to as nanolime is used to better protect and preserve this cultural heritage. Italian and Czech scientists performed experiments at the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ) to investigate how effectively nanolime protects porous material.

They look like microscopic bottle brushes: Polymers with a spine and tufts of side arms. This molecular design gives them unusual abilities: For example, they can bind active ingredients and release them again when the temperature changes. With the help of neutrons at the MLZ, a research team from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has now succeeded to unveil the changes in the internal structure in course of the process.

Every year, up to 1,200 guest scientists from all over the world come to perform measurements at the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Research Neutron Source (FRM II). Technical University Munich (TUM) and Forschungszentrum Jülich are now expanding the research capacities of the world’s most versatile neutron source with two new buildings providing a total of 4,550 square meters of floor space for laboratories, offices and workshops.

The green fluorescent protein GFP is of immense importance as a luminous marker in the cell. At the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Center (MLZ), Japanese researchers investigated the position of hydrogen atoms in the coloring components of the protein, which enables the development of new marker proteins.

The Analytical Research Infrastructures of Europe (ARIE) joins cross-border, multidisciplinary forces to offer Europe a strong and effective weapon against the current COVID-19 challenge and other potential viral and microbial threats. The MLZ is represented by Dr. Astrid Schneidewind from Forschungszentrum Jülich, who heads the working group “Adaptation to climate change, including societal transformation”.

The MLZ has honored Prof. Dr. Georg Roth from RWTH Aachen University for his distinguished long-term service to the facility. Prof. Roth’s contributions are recognized with the prize for instrumentation and scientific usage, in particular for his involvements with two diffractometers utilizing hot neutrons, HEiDi and POLI.

For the first time, researchers have created antiferromagnetic skyrmions, whose critical elements inside are arranged in opposing directions. They visualized this phenomenon using neutrons at the MLZ, as well as at Swiss and French neutron sources. The discovery published in Nature is a major step towards developing more efficient computers.

The District Administrator of Freising, Helmut Petz, visited the research neutron source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II) together with his department and subject area managers. The directors of the neutron source informed the interested visitors during a guided tour about the safety concepts, scientific projects and planned extensions of the research facility.

The Euroscience Open Forum (ESOF) in Trieste from September 2 to 6 proved that an online conference can be successful: more than 400 participants from 56 countries exchanged views on the topic “Freedom for science, science for freedom”. At the accompanying Science in the City Festival, MLZ scientists gave online lectures and showed films.

The world of physics is in uproar as a Hungarian team is said to have discovered a yet unknown particle with puzzling properties. This would not only go beyond the current understanding of physics but also bring in reach a decades-long dream in physics: An approach to dark matter.

Photon and Neutron Sources in Europe have been developing and implementing a policy for the management of experimental data, the DOI for data. This persistent link guarantees the traceability and reliability of an experiment and its results and simplifies the access to the data.

Scientists at the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ) use imaging techniques with neutrons to study specially bonded steel components. With their results they can improve the welding process for oil and gas pipelines and turbines.

Magnetic nanoparticles react differently to an external magnetic field than was previously expected. This has been shown in a study by an international research team with the participation of Forschungszentrum Jülich using neutron scattering at the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Centre in Garching.

Meteorites give us insight into the early development of the solar system. Using the SAPHiR instrument from the Research Neutron Source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II) at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), a scientific team has for the first time simulated the formation of a class of stony-iron meteorites, so-called pallasites, on a purely experimental basis.

High-grade biopolymers can be obtained from wood, which could replace fossil resources as a base material for a variety of products. This can already be achieved on a laboratory scale, they are not profitable for industrial use. This has already been achieved on a laboratory scale, but industrial use is currently not profitable. At MLZ, scientists from FZ Jülich and RWTH Aachen University want to optimise the sustainable process and make it cheaper.

Taking a look into ancient vases or exploring the forging technique of ancient Indian swords – archaeologists can now do this and much more at the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum within the IPERION HS project. The EU has been supporting the 68 participating institutes since April with a total of 6.2 million euros over a period of three years.

Moon-shot missions, such as those of Horizon Europe, require exceptional solutions, and the world-leading Analytical Research Infrastructures of Europe (ARIEs) are one of the key places those solutions can be sought. The ARIE Joint Position Paper highlighting how the common, complementary approach will help address the societal challenges of the Horizon Europe Missions framework programme was presented today.

An international team of researchers has now used neutrons to visualize the proton transfer in the enzyme ascorbate peroxidase for the first time in detail and suggested reaction pathways.

The Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ) opens new research opportunities for scientists from a wide range of disciplines. But who knows and uses the manifold possibilities of neutron research?

On July 1, Dr. Axel Pichlmaier takes up the post of Technical Director of the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz research neutron source. The 51-year-old physicist brings with him experience from neutron research as well as from reactor operation and nuclear supervision.

Hydrogen as an energy carrier will play an important role in the energy turnaround. But to produce it from water in a CO2-neutral way by electrolysis, it needs a lot of electricity. Neutrons help to study materials that can reduce the electricity consumption in this reaction.

Aluminum blanks cannot be produced without residual stress. This means that the material warps during subsequent machining, which leads to inaccuracies. This is particularly problematic in delicate applications, such as aircraft construction. Neutron measurements at the MLZ showed that a new process is capable of reducing residual stresses almost completely.

He never liked to be the centre of attention and yet everything revolves around him one last time: Prof. Dr. Albert Steyerl, the inventor of the neutron turbine, died on 2 May at the age of 81.

Progress in developing a lower enriched fuel with monolithic uranium-molybdenum. Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Framatome are working together on the development of a new fuel. The first prototypes will be produced at the beginning of 2021 and are expected to go into production by 2022.

PhD candidate Neslihan Aslan is doing research in the area of hydrogen storage at the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ). In January the scientist was awarded the Fuat Sezgin Prize, which is offered by the Presidency for Turks Abroad (YTB) of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

A professional mill for industrial applications is more complicated than most people think. Cutting elements of polycrystalline diamond or tungsten carbide are brazed onto a steel body. A manufacturer of such tools had them analysed with neutrons.

We wish everyone, despite the special circumstances, Happy Easter!

Since March 1, Robert Rieck runs the administration of the research neutron source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II). The 42-years-old fully trained lawyer brings with him experience as a lawyer, from working in the TUM Legal Office and the Center for Study and Teaching (formerly the University Department for Study and Teaching – Legal Affairs) as well as from working in the administrative management of the Bavarian School of Public Policy (HfP).

One million electric cars are planned to roll on Germany’s roads. Although the efficiency of an electric motor is more than twice as high than that of an internal combustion engine, a higher efficiency could save a lot of energy due to the large number of vehicles. Using a new measurement technique, neutrons help to make engines even more efficient.

The Research Neutron Source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II) supports the fire departments and the “Technisches Hilfswerk” (THW) with the production of high purity water for surface disinfectants. The ultrapure water production facility at FRM II currently has sufficient capacity, as the reactor is on a maintenance break.

Researchers worldwide are trying to develop drugs or a vaccine against the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In view of the corona pandemic, the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ) also offers special access to measurements with neutrons, which can provide important insights into the behaviour of the virus.

Nanoparticles can be found in pharmaceuticals, catalysts, and even TVs. Researchers at the chemical company Merck, the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), and the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE) used neutrons at MLZ to study colloidal nanoparticles. They are particularly well suited for converting electrical signals into light or, vice versa, light into electricity.

Breaking a magnet into two pieces, reveals a north and a south pole in each of them. Independent magnetic monopoles have been known as emergent excitations in one special class of magnetic crystals only. An international team of researchers has now for the first time detected magnetic monopoles with neutrons in a material that conducts electricity.

Currently, the FRM II supplies neutrons for research, industry and medicine until 16.3. As a precautionary measure, the Research Neutron Source has postponed the following cycle from the beginning of April to the beginning of May. Because scientific users could not come to the measurements due to travel restrictions because of corona.

Soup freezes at sub-zero temperatures, by forming small islands of ice germs first. Magnetic structures, so-called skyrmions, behave very similarly, as scientists have discovered with the help of neutrons for the first time at the MLZ.

The conference “Neutrons for the Life Sciences” will take place from 16 to 19 June 2020 in Lenggries. Interested can register as Early-Bird until April 13th.

Abstracts can still be submitted until 13 March.

The Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Research Neutron Source receives around 350,000 euros in funding from the EU to continue its cooperation with large-scale Russian research institutions. The project CREMLINplus was officially launched in Hamburg at the end of February.

On 02.03.2004 at 14:01 h the Research Neutron Source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz produced its first neutrons. Today, on 02.03.2020, FRM II celebrates its 16th birthday. Then as now, the neutron source is one of the most modern and powerful neutron sources worldwide.

Freeze drying has provided us with tasty dried fruits in muesli, long-life yoghurt cultures and many other important products. For the first time, using neutron beams from the Heinz-Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II) research neutron source, a team of scientists has now been able to show us the drying process in detail. The process engineering has thus gained a method of testing theoretical models in practice.

How do neutrons contribute to mission-based research. The League of Advanced European Neutron Sources (LENS), of which the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ) is also a member, organised a colloquium on this topic in Brussels. The meeting brought together stakeholders from politics and science.

After malaria, leishmaniasis is the second most common cause of death from a parasite. The disease endangers more than 310 million people worldwide. Now, Spanish and German researchers at the MLZ have used neutrons to significantly improve the effectiveness of a drug against leishmaniasis. They smuggle the active substance in disguise.

Batteries with an anode of carbon and silicon store more energy than anodes of pure carbon. This makes them highly interesting for the energy revolution. In order to increase their efficiency in future, researchers from Ulm investigated the batteries with neutrons at the MLZ and discovered a new ageing mechanism that distinguishes them from pure graphite anodes.

NINXMACH 2020 invites archaeologists and geologists from 2 to 4 March. Learn more about measurements with neutron computed tomography and promp-gamma-activation-analysis. The workshop with lectures and hands-on exercises offers the opportunity to compare with experiments performed at synchrotron facilities. Participants may bring their own samples.

Did Oviraptoridchicks hatch at the same time? Researchers at the University of Bonn and the TU Munich provide presumptive evidence

After an involuntary interruption, the FRM II will again supply neutrons to its users from science, industry and medicine from today, 14 January.

A constantly growing number of researchers uses neutrons at the MLZ to analyse proteins, DNA or even entire cells. At the conference “Neutrons for Life Sciences”, neutron scattering and life science experts will meet. Both will present and discuss recent results in Lenggries, Germany, from 16 till 19 June 2020. Early-bird registration is possible until 13 April, abstract submission until 29 February.

For 10 years the cooperation project TUMKolleg has been supporting exceptionally talented pupils. At the traditional graduation ceremony not only the participants received a certificate. The supervising scientists were also presented with the silver TUM badge of honor. Among them: Dr. Xiaosong Li from MLZ.

The figures speak for themselves: The MLZ User Meeting 2019 comes to an end with the highest number of participants, lectures and posters to date. In addition to exciting scientific discussions, the User Office also had the opportunity to present its new GhOST system.

How pure do atoms vibrate in a metal? Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Iron Research and the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have investigated this question with the help of neutrons and theoretical calculations. Their results, which also have effects on the calculation of thermal conductivities, have been published today in the renowned journal Physical Review Letters.

It is now a good tradition that the Research Neutron Source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz presents itself at the university contact fair (Hoko) in Munich. Among 300 other exhibitors, the FRM II again this year offered activities for working students, internships and jobs.

Ismail Zöybek has again been awarded for his ingenious invention for wastewater treatment at the research neutron source FRM II. This time the Bavarian State Ministry for Home and Finance awarded FRM II’s technician during an innovation congress in Nuremberg.

55 students from 13 different countries participated at the Jülich Centre for Neutron Science Labcourse at MLZ this year. They learned neutron scattering in lectures in Jülich and experiments at the research neutron source in Garching.

An article examining lithium telluride and lithium selenide at the MLZ for their superionic properties has won the prize for the best publication of 2018 in the journal “Solid State Ionics”. These materials could be used in electrodes of lithium ion batteries. The work is characterized above all by its detailed and didactic structure and provides important insights into the mechanisms of ionic conductivity in these materials.

The League of advanced European Neutron Sources (LENS) held its second General Assembly at Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) in Grenoble yesterday, preceded on Tuesday by meetings of its five working groups and the LENS Executive Board. Numerous members of the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Center also participated in the meeting.

Prof. Dr. Götz Eckold has now been awarded the Prize for Instrumentation and Scientific Use of the MLZ for his many years of extraordinary commitment. The MLZ honours his great commitment to instrumentation and in particular the instrument PUMA (the three axes spectrometer that in German stands for mit Polarisationsanalyse Und Multi-Analysator).

In the last years, lithium ion batteries have spread widely, in particular in mobile applications and in the electromobility sector. New concepts and materials emerge rapidly. These need to be characterized and their interplay needs to be understood in order to increase the efficiency and the lifespan of batteries built upon them. A collaboration of the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum together with the Technical University of Munich is implementing a new method at the FRM II in Garching which is perfectly tailored to research on lithium-ion batteries: Neutron Depth Profiling (NDP).

Dr. Thiyaga P. Thiyagarajan, from the US Department of Energy (DoE), paid a visit to FRM II and MLZ. He took the opportunity to talk with scientists from MLZ and the physics department as well as operations management and science leaders.

More than 500 visitors enjoyed a guided tour at the Research Neutron Source’s Open Day and Mouse Day again this year. In addition to the visitors’ tours, children and adults enjoyed a colorful accompanying program in the physics department.

“The neutron – infinite possibilities.” FRM II and MLZ presented themselves under this motto at this year’s Highlights of Physics. The science festival took place from 16 to 21 September at several locations in Bonn and attracted around 60,000 interested visitors with its various exhibits, lectures and interactive activities.

The development of new and, above all, safer nuclear fuels is a worldwide goal, in which the Idaho National Laboratory and the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Centre are also playing a major role. In order to test the loading capacity of fuel elements, they are first exposed to extreme conditions and then investigated. Now, researchers from both institutes have developed the world’s first neutron CT system for irradiated fuel to non-destructively investigate the internal condition of the test fuels and, on this basis, to develop more efficient and safer nuclear fuels.

The Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum and FRM II took part in the Garching Autumn Days with a newly designed stand. In addition to numerous citizens of the university town, Garching’s mayor also informed himself about current research at the MLZ.

Under the motto “physics and technology made easy” the MLZ, the physics department of the TUM as well as the Gerda Stetter Foundation organized three very informative and eventful project days especially for girls at Bavarian schools during the summer holidays. From 26 to 28 August, the twelve girls aged 11 to 13 who had registered for the holiday programme were able to immerse themselves in a playful way in the world of technology and natural sciences.

Cobalt is expensive, highly reactive, and geographically limited, where it is often mined under conditions that violate human rights. Therefore, enormous efforts have been undertaken for the reduction of cobalt amount in the Li-ion batteries. The cobalt-free battery is the next goal in this development.

We owe the ever better performance of mobile phones, cordless screwdrivers, and electric cars to lithium-ion batteries. With higher energy densities, however, the safety of rechargeable batteries must still to be guaranteed. The German-American battery project, LISI, is therefore investigating the chemical processes in lithium-ion solid-state batteries in order to improve battery safety.

On 13 June 2019 Prof. Dr. Otto Schärpf, a gifted experimental physicist, universal scholar and priest in the Jesuit Order, passed away at the age of 89. In the community of neutron scatterers he gained international fame as a pioneer of polarization analysis. Since 1991 he was a member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts.

The Technical University of Munich (TUM) is participating in the construction of two measuring instruments at the European Spallation Neutron Source (ESS) in Sweden. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is funding this project, with material and human resources, to the tune of around 15 million euros. Now the people responsible at the ESS in Lund and the FRM II in Garching have signed the contracts of cooperation.

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is funding 16 projects at the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ) with around 13 million euros. The funding is awarded for joint research projects that will construct and expand measuring instruments for neutron and positron research over a period of three years.

Technische Universität München as operator of the neutron source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II) actively participates in international fuel research with the aim to develop new nuclear fuels with lower enrichment and increased uranium density for high performance research reactors such as the FRM II. The working group “High density fuels” works on the three main pillars fuel development, fuel manufacturing and theoretical core modelling.

The two TUM institutes, Forschungs-Neutronenquelle Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II) and Radiochemie München (RCM), have applied to the District Office of Munich for a higher water law permit. In a public hearing on 23 July 2019 in the Ismaninger Bürgersaal, objectors and affected parties were able to express their concerns and discuss them openly with the applicant and the responsible authorities.

The elected representation of neutron researchers in Germany (German Committee Research with Neutrons, KFN) descibes the importance of neutron research at FRM II for the whole society in an open letter. It asks for a quick solution of the present transport problem to allow the efficient use of FRM II, which will be the only neutron source in Germany in the upcoming years.

With a new spray coating process, very uniform layers of cellulose nanofibers (CNF) can be produced on an industrial scale. X-ray investigations at DESY as well as investigations with an atomic force microscope and neutron scattering at the MLZ, show how the layer is structured and can be tailored for different purposes. A Swedish-German research team led by DESY scientist Adj. Prof. Dr. Stephan Roth presents its structural analyses in the journal “Macromolecules”.

At this year’s internal workshop in Grainau, the focus was on an extensive exchange with colleagues on the future perspectives and strategies of the MLZ. The conference was also characterised by a broad spectrum of exciting lectures and discussions. The picturesque surroundings invited to excursions and sportive hikes.

An exciting research question, a highly regarded fellowship, some very cool neutrons, and of course the prospect of a big mug of German beer. This is what drove Dr. Sergio Raul Soria from his study site in Bariloche, Argentina, to the MLZ in Garching.

Truffles are among the most expensive foodstuffs worldwide. One kilogram of white truffles from Italy can be sold for as high as 9,000 euros. Until now, it was not possible to verify the origin of this exquisite edible mushrooms with absolute certainty. However, scientists at the research neutron source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II) of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have now found a way to identify the truffles’ origin.

Magnetism research with neutrons – the number 1 topic at the MLZ conference in picturesque Lenggries. In their varied lectures, world-renowned speakers reported on various research topics in magnetism that are to revolutionize future information and quantum technologies.

The Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ) and the French Neutron Scattering Federation (2DFN) organized a German-French workshop on the research campus in Garching from the 14th until the 16th May 2019. As two national neutron sources in Germany and France will be decommissioned at the end of 2019, the European neutron landscape will change. Therefore, the workshop served to discuss the opportunity of an enhanced French-German cooperation among European neutron scientists.

In the pantheon of unconventional superconductors, iron selenide is a rock star. But new experiments by U.S., Chinese and European physicists have found the material’s magnetic persona to be unexpectedly mundane. The group published the results in Nature Materials.

Research and science fascinate people anywhere and at any time. This was proven once again at this year’s Streetlife Festival in Munich. Despite the initially bad weather, many of the 230,000 visitors came to see us. So, only after a short while, there was a giant queue of old and young in front of our stand.

American, Chinese and German scientists have found tiny distortions among the otherwise symmetrical atomic order of an iron pnictide superconductor with measurements at the triple axes spectrometer TRISP. They have thus come closer to superconductivity at higher temperatures.

He developed the world’s first neutron time-of-flight diffractometer with a 150-meter-long neutron guide at the Atomic Egg in Garching and planned the instruments at the research neutron source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz. Now Erich Steichele has died at the age of 80 near Bad Wörishofen.

Electrons and their atomic nuclei influence their respective motions in more materials than previously assumed. Scientists from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the Forschungszentrum Jülich made this discovery during measurements conducted at TUM’s research neutron source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II). Possible applications for the effect they identified include data processing and zero-loss transmission of electricity.

This year’s MLZ conference from 4 till 7 June in Lenggries features Neutrons for Information and Quantum Technologies. Registration and abstracts submitting are possible until 17 May.

The university comes to the school. Under this motto, approximately 70 teachers from all over Bavaria listened to and discussed the talks of the university lecturers on the topic “Renewable Energies” at the 43rd Edgar-Lüscher-Seminar.

The Physics Department of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has appointed PD Dr. Christoph Hugenschmidt adjunct professor for the subject “Physics with positrons” at the chair E21 on 15 January. Thereby TUM recognizes the scientific achievements of the 49-year-old as well as his years of engagement to teaching. In an interview, Prof. Dr. Christoph Hugenschmidt explains the research field of positrons, which he newly established at TUM.

La Fédération Française de la Diffusion Neutronique and MLZ are organizing a French-German workshop aiming at exploring the opportunities of cooperation between French and German neutron scientists against the background of a changing European neutron landscape in Garching, from 14 to 16 May 2019.
Registration is possible now, abstracts can be submitted until 30 April.

On 28th March, The Research Neutron Source (FRM II) opened its doors for national Girls’ Day. More than 30 interested girls were introduced to the job of a “scientist” and learned about neutrons and what you can do with them. Johanna Jochum, scientist at the RESEDA instrument, talks about a typical working day at the neutron source.

In toothpaste, Teflon, LEDs and medications, it shows its sunny side – but elemental fluorine is extremely aggressive and highly toxic. Attempts to determine the crystal structure of solid fluorine using X-rays ended with explosions 50 years ago. A research team has now clarified the actual structure of the fluorine using neutrons from the Heinz Maier Leibnitz Research Neutron Source (FRM II).

Members of a strategic consortium of neutron research facilities in Europe, the League of advanced European Neutron Sources (LENS), officially launched activities to promote collaboration on neutron usage, technology development, innovation, data, education, and strategies. By aligning policies among its partners, LENS will advocate for the user community and strengthen European neutron science.

Around 70 scientists recently met in Garching on the topics of activation analysis and gamma spectrometry at the seminar SAAGAS (Seminar on Activation Analysis and Gamma Spectrometry). After 2013, the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum hosted the seminar once again.

The small angle neutron scattering instrument KWS-2 weighs five tons and has been lifted up by ten centimeters in the maintenance break. A Herculean task.

Physicists from the University of Luxembourg, the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ) and a team of research partners have demonstrated for the first time in a comprehensive study how different magnetic materials can be examined using small-angle neutron scattering. The scientists around Dr. Sebastian Mühlbauer (MLZ, Technical University of Munich) and Prof. Dr. Andreas Michels (University of Luxemburg) have published their insights in “Reviews of Modern Physics,” the respected science journal of the American Physical Society.

For exactly 15 years the research neutron source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II) of the Technical University Munich provides neutrons for research, industry and medicine. Today, and then, the neutron source is one of the most powerful and modern ones worldwide. Each year around 1000 international customers come to Garching executing measurements for their cutting-edge research.

New research published in Nature Communications may help scientists understand the cause of the rare and incurable disease transthyretin amyloidosis. A team of scientists based at Keele University (UK) and the Institut Laue-Langevin (France) has been trying to understand the mechanism by which the disease is caused. Neutron crystallographic measurements were carried out using both the ILL LADI-III diffractometer (operated by Matthew Blakeley) and MLZ’s neutron diffraction instrument BIODIFF with the help of MLZ scientist Andreas Ostermann. The neutron structures were important in visualizing specific details of molecular structure and drug interactions.

Salt apparently affects allergic immune reactions. A team working with Prof. Christina Zielinski at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has demonstrated in cell cultures that salt leads to the formation of Th2 cells. These immune cells are active in allergic conditions such as atopic dermatitis. The team also detected elevated salt concentrations in the skin of patients.

The Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ) is one of 14 international research organisations participating in a European neutron science project bringing together a neutron ecosystem for sustainable science with ESS (BrightnESS-2). The three-year programme funded by the EU Research and Innovation programme Horizon 2020 started with its kick-off meeting in January and focuses on the long-term sustainability of the European Spallation Source (ESS) and its community.

Jens Krüger, head of the instrument control group at the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum and instructor at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), was awarded the August Föppl-Medal during the dies academicus for his extraordinary work as a trainer.

Scientists from Jülich together with colleagues from Japan have discovered how fuel cell membranes can be improved without the use of rare and expensive precious metals such as platinum. The anion-exchange membranes studied are a key component of certain polymer electrolyte fuel cells and serve to transfer charged particles (anions) while at the same time retaining gases such as oxygen or hydrogen.

Unlike ice and other inorganic substances, most polymers do not show sharp phase transitions. Instead of melting at a well defined temperature, they gradually soften without significantly changing their microscopic structure. Yet some so-called thermoresponsive polymers show a drastic and discontinuous phase transition with rapid structural changes. An international team of scientists led by Prof. Christine M. Papadakis from TUM’s Physics Department has measured at the MLZ neutron small angle scattering instrument KWS-3, to sheds new light on the physical mechanism behind this peculiar behavior.

A new approach to achieving targeted and at the same time reversible material design using oxygen has now been presented by scientists at Forschungszentrum Jülich. The ceramic material they examined at the MLZ-instrument MARIA is able to absorb, store and release oxygen, in the same manner as a sponge does with water.

Apply now for the ERASMUS Mundus programme MaMaSELF (Master in Materials Science for Energy application and use of Large Scale Facilities). The deadlines are February 10th 2019 for Non-European students, March 24th 2019 for European students, and May 15th 2019 for self-funded students.

Small angle neutron scattering at KWS-1 has enabled scientists of Forschungszentrum Jülich and the University College London to look at the arrangement of proteins inside nanocavities. They showed for the first time, that the molecules do not clump despite limited space and even found the reasons for this behaviour.

For the first time, scientists of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) have trapped positrons in a magnetic cage without losses. This is an important step towards a matter-antimatter plasma of electrons and their antiparticles, the positrons, which are assumed to occur in the vicinity of neutron stars and black holes.

In an article published online now in Science Advances, a team of scientists from the USA and Germany offer an explanation of how a particular phase-change memory (PCM) material can work a thousand times faster than current flash computer memory, while being significantly more durable with respect to the number of daily read-writes. They have studied the material at the MLZ instrument TOFTOF.

At the end of November the German Chapter of “Women in Nuclear“ (WiN) held its Annual General Meeting at the FRM II. WiN is a worldwide association of women working in the field of nuclear techniques and industries as scientists or engineers, or in other functions.

They praise the versatility, the opportunity to try something and the friendly colleagues: The research neutron source has sent four apprentices into professional life this year. The three young men and one woman have learned specialized computer science and mechatronics in Garching.

Praise and applause characterized the farewell event honouring Professor Dr. Winfried Petry, the former Scientific Director of FRM II, which was held on 25 October 2018 organized by Professor Dr. Peter Müller-Buschbaum. Winfried Petry’s merits were highly appreciated by the President of TUM, the Bavarian Minister of Science and the Arts, a representative of the Federal Ministry for Education and Research and by a board member of the Forschungszentrum Jülich.

Organic solar cells are cheaper to produce than conventional photovoltaic systems and can even be sprayed as thin layers on any surfaces. They have been the subject of intensive research since the Nobel price was awarded for conducting polymers in 2000. Physicists at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have now been able to clarify why additives increase the efficiency of solar cells from a morphological point of view with the use of neutrons at the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ).

Two pupils changed Catalonia for Bavaria for four weeks and performed a practical with Dr. Sebastian Busch at the MLZ in summer.

Themed additive manufacturing the VDI-TUM Expert Forum took place at the faculty of mechanical engineering (TUM) on 13 September 2018. The Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum of the Technical University of Munich represented by Dr. Ralph Gilles and the Association of German Engineers (VDI) Materials Engineering, represented by Dr. Achim Eggert and the VDI Committee of Experts 101 organized the 7th VDI-TUM Expert Forum.

Prof. i.R. Dr. Winfried Petry has been awarded with the honorary title of Emeritus of Excellence of the Technical University of Munich (TUM). TUM-President Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Wolfgang A. Herrmann bestowed the certificate appreciating his academic achievements on 9 October.

One sixth of the annual visitors don’t come on one day for no reason. Like every year the neutron research source had quite a lot to offer.

More than 100 happy children and the same number of parents step out of the research neutron source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II) on October 3rd. The children benefited from a special guided tour during the door-opener-day of “Sendung mit der Maus” (The Show with the Mouse) where they built chemical elements and finally enjoyed a sweet and ice-cold surprise.

A wealth of new contacts, ideas and information was taken home by more than 520 scientists who attended the “German Conference for Research with Synchrotron Radiation, Neutrons and Ion Beams at Large Facilities 2018” in mid September 2018.

Representatives of eight European research infrastructures signed the Charter of the League of advanced European Neutron Sources (LENS) today at the International Conference of Research Infrastructures, ICRI2018.

The new instrument KOMPASS was born on May 29, 2018, at exactly 15:16h. At that time, it detected the first neutrons, which were scattered from a sample.

What do marshmallows, spaghetti and Lego have in common? They explain exciting methods and principles of neutron sciences. More than 4600 visitors could convince themselves about that at the Scientific Village in Toulouse in July 2018.

3 October 2018 is dedicated to children and families: “Die Sendung mit der Maus”, (The Show with the Mouse), a well reputed children’s series on German television, called for the nationwide 7th “Door-opener-day”. At the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum, too, doors that usually are closed for children will open.

Like in the previous years, the Physics Department of the TUM, the Gerda-Stetter Foundation, and the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ) collaborated again to offer this three-day program called, “Physics and technology made easy” especially for girls from the age of 11 to 13 years.

Neutron scattering has enabled scientists at Forschungszentrum Jülich to detect the formation of droplets in supercritical carbon dioxide at high pressure. This finding can be used to determine a phase transition within the fluid with greater accuracy.

The positron source NEPOMUC can be seen on a billboard in downtown Munich until the end of July. The more, a wooden model of the atomic egg is exhibited in a gallery in Augustenstraße, Munich. Both are projects from architecture students at the Technical University of Munich.

For the first time a team of researchers have discovered with the help of neutrons at the instrument SANS-1 two different phases of magnetic skyrmions in a single material. Physicists of the Technical Universities of Munich and Dresden and the University of Cologne can now better study and understand the properties of these magnetic structures, which are important for both basic research and applications.

Indian researchers have engineered a piezoelectric ceramic with the highest shape changing value reported so far for polycrystalline ceramics and close to the record set by single crystals. Using neutron scattering at the instrument SPODI, they could explain the mechanism of the new material.

The international MLZ Conference 2018 “Neutrons for Culture and Art” was held at beautiful Lenggries, Germany, not far away from Munich in southern Bavaria between June 19th and 22nd, 2018. More than 40 scientists and staff members of several museums had accepted the invitation and came together for this meeting at the Arabella Brauneck Hotel.

Molecular nanomagnets represent quite promising systems for high-density storage devices and as building units in quantum computers. Key requirements for their large-scale industrial application are the storage efficiency and the storage reliability against internal and external perturbations.Indeed, the main source of memory loss results from electronic quantum fluctuations within the ground state of the molecule (so-called quantum tunneling). A Danish-based team of international researchers has now gauged the effect of a chemistry-induced symmetry change in lanthanides-based molecular nanomagnets, thus addressing both key requirements at once. The results, achieved via inelastic neutron scattering at the MLZ time-of-flight spectrometer TOFTOF and complementary techniques, recently appeared in Nature Communications and Advanced Functional Materials.

Since the end of February, Prof. Dr. Stephan Förster, Forschungszentrum Jülich, has been appointed as director at the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum. He succeeds Prof. Dr. Thomas Brückel.

The participants in this year’s Edgar Lüscher Seminar at the Gymnasium Zwiesel, Bavarian Forest, got an update of pioneering research work. The scientific heads of the seminar, Prof. Dr. Winfried Petry and Prof. Dr. Peter Müller-Buschbaum from the Technical University of Munich (TUM), had invited renowned speakers to give talks to the teachers in the school in Zwiesel.

Quantum spin liquids represent a novel state of matter in which the spins do not arrange themselves in an ordered pattern as they do in a conventional magnet. This state features spins with long-range entanglements and fractional excitations, and thus can find applications in quantum computation and communication.

The Norwegian Research Council granted 2 million Kroner for a Post-Doc position to design a sample holder for Li-ion coin cell batteries, which can be charged and discharged while measuring with neutrons.

For the German Conference for Research with Synchroton Radiation, Neutrons and Ion Beams at Large Facilities (SNI 2018) at MLZ, abstracts can be submitted until 11 May. The conference will take place in Garching from 17 until 19 September 2018.

An international team of researchers has discovered functional electronic interfaces in quantum materials that can spontaneously self-assemble.

The world’s highest-performance neutron source for research, FRM II of the Technical University of Munich (TUM), will have a new Scientific Director as of April 1st. With the appointment of Professor Peter Müller-Buschbaum, an internationally renowned researcher has been appointed to succeed Winfried Petry.

Lithium-ion batteries are an indispensable part of our daily lives. The negative electrodes are typically based on graphite. However, they have some problems, such as the so-called lithium plating. Now there is an electrode material that is not based on graphite and does not show these disadvantages: sodium hexatitanate.

Developers from Bosch and scientists at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) are using neutrons to analyze the filling of lithium ion batteries for hybrid cars with electrolytes. Their experiments show that electrodes are wetted twice as fast in a vacuum as under normal pressure.

It is already known that dinosaurs lay eggs. The fact that the offspring of the same mother hatch at different times from the eggs, was observed so far only in modern birds. For the first time, measurements at FRM II could prove that already their ancestors, the dinosaurs, hatched asynchronously.

Researchers from MLZ (Forschungszentrum Jülich) have investigated the crystallization of the protein lysozyme in an experiment at the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL). They focused on conditions known to result in the formation of particularly large crystals, suitable for use in high-resolution neutron protein crystallography.

Christoph Göbel, district administrator of the district of Munich (4th from left), and some executives visited the FRM II and faced up to a group photo in the reactor hall.

Magnetic skyrmions can potentially store information in a higher density than today’s data carriers. Since their discovery using neutrons at the FRM II in 2009, research on magnetic skyrmions is booming. For the first time, physicists of the Technical University of Munich have used a specially adapted imaging technique at the MLZ in order to clarify exactly how and where the magnetic vortex structure of the skyrmion lattice forms in extended bulk samples.

Dr. Harald Breitkreutz will give a lecture under this title at Deutsches Museum on February 14th at 7 pm as part of the series “Science for Everyone”.

Dr. Harald Breitkreutz hält unter diesem Titel am 14. Februar um 19 Uhr im Rahmen der Reihe “Wissenschaft für Jedermann” einen Vortrag im Deutschen Museum.

Armin Kriele from the Helmholtz Center Geesthacht has something in common with the famous inventor of Walt Disney: Both make inventions for the joy of working. Kriele is responsible for the Materials Science Laboratory at the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Center and has a lot to do with batteries of all kinds. For their detailed analysis, he has now made an invention and applied for a patent.

During the several-hour tour, Josef Hauner was enthusiastic about the many applications of Garching’s neutrons in medicine, industry and research: “It was very instructive and exciting,” he said. The visit was conducted by the Manfred Danner, who is fire district counselor of the Freising district and full-time deputy shift supervisor and reactor driver at FRM II.

Ismail Zöybek, who works at FRM II in the light water systems group, has received a personal thank-you letter from the Minister of State, Ludwig Spaenle. How did he come to the honor of such a letter from the Bavarian State Ministry for Education and Culture, Science and Art?

Several new projects in the research neutron source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz will influence the research and the application of neutrons. Three out of these projects are topics in the programme “Münchner Stadtrundgang” of the local tv broadcast muenchen.tv.

The usual methods to define the structure of proteins do not work with membrane proteins. Scientists from the Jülich Centre of Neutron Science have now found a new neutron method to determine the structure of membrane proteins with a resolution of 1-2 nm.

CsCuCl₃ crystallizes in a right and left form. Under normal conditions, it is impossible to separate these two so-called chiral forms and to obtain a crystal with a purely right or purely left atomic arrangement. The Japanese scientist Dr. Yusuke Kousaka has not only managed to grow pure monochiral crystals, but also to prove the direct correlation between crystalline and magnetic chirality with polarized neutrons at the single-crystal diffractometer POLI.

The transregional collaborative research center TRR 80 “From electronic correlations to functionality” successfully enters the third funding period. The German Research Foundation DFG will continue to support the consortium of the University of Augsburg and the Technical University of Munich with another 8.8 million euros for the next four years. Five projects are mainly carried out at the research neutron source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II).

Cloppenburg is a city in Lower Saxony and therefore namesake for a strange stone, which was there already found in March 2017. Experts from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) were able to confirm beyond doubt that this is a piece of meteorite from the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

There will also be art at or in the new twin buildings on the grounds of the FRM II, for which the groundbreaking ceremony took place in February 2017. From 4 to 8 December, the submitted six proposals for this art can be viewed in the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS). Room 0 is to the right of the main entrance and open daily from 8am to 4pm.

Drugs can alter the structure of cell membranes. This in turn can affect their function and cause undesirable side effects. The structural changes in cell membranes caused by drugs have not yet been sufficiently investigated. Researchers from Jülich, Garching (near Munich), Georgia, and France now want to change this. They have developed a new neutron research method which enables deformations of the membranes to be detected faster and more easily than previous methods.

A Chinese research group led by Prof. Jun Zhao at Fudan University found the twisted magnetic excitations in the new Fe-based superconductor Li0.8Fe0.2ODFeSe from a neutron scattering experiment on PUMA, MLZ and Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the United State. This finding provides one step further in understanding of the mechanism in high temperature superconductivity.

The National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA), Argentina is currently building a new 30MW multi-functional reactor in Buenos Aires, scheduled to go into operation at the beginning of the next decade. The need for radioisotopes is also growing in Argentina, so their production is a major purpose of the new neutron source.

On October 31, 1957, the Munich research reactor FRM went online for the first time. Until 2000, the “Atomic Egg” of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) was a reliable provider of neutrons for basic research and medical applications. This year the facility is celebrating its 60th birthday with a special exhibition.

Fully booked guided tours, crowded info booths and great interest in the special exhibition on the Atomic Egg – this is the conclusion of the Open House Day at the Research Neutron Source.

This year, the annual JCNS Workshop addressed the issue of “Trends and Perspectives in Neutron Scattering: Probing Structure and Dynamics at Interfaces and Surfaces”. Held at the Evangelische Akademie in Tutzing on Lake Starnberg, south of Munich, from 10-13 October, more than 70 participants were in attendance to discuss recent developments and scientific challenges in interface structure and dynamics in soft matter, magnetism and condensed matter systems.

A series of events is planned this year for the 60th anniversary of neutron research in Garching: The photo exhibition in the Garching subway is now to be seen until October 10th. From November 7th to December 3rd 2017 the photos will be hung in a special exhibition of the museum “Reich der Kristalle” in Munich. Finally, on the open door day, there will be a special exhibition to the so called “Atomic Egg” in the gate building.

Worldwide, more than 30 million medical examinations are conducted annually with the radioactive substance technetium-99m. The mother isotope molybdenum-99 can only be produced in research neutron sources. A new film shows the status of the upgrading at the FRM II towards the production of molybdenum-99.

In May / June the neutron users in Germany elected their representatives, the 11th committee Forschung mit Neutronen (KFN). A total of 15 candidates threw their hats in the ring and since 18.9. 2017 Astrid Schneidewind (FZ Jülich) is the new KFN chairman. Markus Braden (University of Cologne) is the new deputy chairman and is also responsible for the topics of infrastructure and instrumentation.

Mushroom pickers never reveal their places of discovery and neither for Dr. Matthias Rossbach. Instead, they have sent him the dried mushrooms they collected in Bavaria, Lower Saxony and Brandenburg, for scientific research.

Fans of crime stories know: If the dentition of an unknown victim can be compared with a tooth scheme, the identity is soon clarified with this information. Similarly, the paleontologist study teeth as they contain a lot of essential biological information, representing a kind of “black box” of the life of a past individual. However, these information are not so easy to extract.

The efficiency of gas turbines is close to the limit. The state-of-the-art nickel base alloys would not tolerate higher temperatures. Therefore, scientists are looking for an alternative superalloy for the turbine material. Lukas Karge studied a hot candidate for his PhD thesis with Dr. habil. Ralph Gilles at the MLZ.

Eight highly motivated girls participated in the program “Physics and technology made easy” within the framework of the “Mädchen machen Technik” initiative.

Florian Hahn, Member of the German Parliament, has now visited the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum.

Until end of September a new photo exhibition is now to see in the subway showcase of the city of Garching on the occasion of the anniversary “60 years neutrons from Garching”.

On 27 July at 7 pm Prof. Winfried Petry, the Scientific Director of the FRM II, will give a one-hour talk at the gymnasium in Garching. This will include a very short historical retrospect, but most of all the listeners will get up-to-date information on what is going on at the research neutron source in Garching, on current research and how the FRM II is positioned in the international research landscape. Admission is free and all interested Garchinger citizens are invited to attend. There will also be the opportunity to ask own questions and to receive competent answers.

Scientists from EPFL and PSI have shown experimentally, for the first time, a quantum phase transition in strontium copper borate, the only material to date that realizes a famous quantum many-body model. Scientist Dr. Astrid Schneidewind from the MLZ was also involved with the PANDA instrument.

In the journal Science, a Chinese–German team of researchers has presented a novel synthetic antiferromagnetic material which may prove pioneering for progress in nanomedicine and information technology. Up until now, synthetic antiferromagnets have been manufactured primarily from transition metals and alloys. The scientists from the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei manufactured a different kind of antiferromagnet consisting of several oxide layers only a few nanometres thick, whose properties can be adapted to various applications in a targeted manner. In collaboration with Forschungszentrum Jülich, the researchers used neutron measurements at Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ) to show that the individual layers of the new material can be magnetized and their polarity reversed – meaning that the magnetic states can be switched in a controlled fashion.

Since several decades an enigmatic impression in the braincase of the forerunners of mammals caused palaeontologists headache. Recently, Michael Laaß could clarify the possible function of this chamber by means of neutron tomography at the instrument ANTARES.

Just in time …

They have received by far the most votes from all candidates and are represented again in the “Komitee Forschung mit Neutronen”: Dr. Astrid Schneidewind from the Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (left), and Dr. Wiebke Lohstroh from the Technical University of Munich (right).

Once again, the instrument BioDiff at the MLZ has located with highest accuracy hydrogen atoms of various inhibitors when binding to the enzyme trypsin. The results, which are important for the prediction of binding properties of new substances in drug research, have now been published in the journal Angewandte Chemie.

The IAEA organizes the workshop for disseminating the use of neutron imaging in research and industry from 28 August until 1 September. Registration and abstract submission are possible until 10 June.

Restorers often have to deal with negative or even damaging consequences of conservation measures from earlier years. The church of St. Laurentius in Tönning / Schleswig-Holstein was also affected, because two valuable wooden figures from the beginning of the 18th century were distorted by an earlier treatment of wood preservatives.

The MLZ does not only provide excellent scientific results and user service but also extraordinary education and training for young people, world-class instruments and their upgrades. The MLZ also offers from time to time support for the technical program of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which brings together research institutions and scientists from its different member states to collaborate on research projects or training purposes. Another important support is to fund travel expenses for scientists, as many countries only have a limited budget for research activities or travels to conferences and training.

“Mountains – Hiking – Learning” is the motto of the “Ferienakademie Sarntal” from 17 to 29 September 2017. Until 9 May, Bachelor and Master students from various disciplines can apply.

The speed of microelectronics is currently limited by heating, as increased speed also increases the power dissipation. Spintronics or Spin-Electronics is a new concept allowing for much higher speed. It is based on the manipulation of the electron spins in magnetic layers buried inside the devices. A high magnetization of these magnetic layers is desirable in spintronic devices to allow for efficient manipulation of the electronic states.

Ricardo Garcia Soto is a Chilean science author and director of television films, as well as the highly successful Astroblog. He studied astronomy at the University of Chile and completed his education as a film and TV director, which gave him a different look at astronomical research.
In 2016 he visited Garching and came by for a stop-over at the FRM II. He made a short about what to see at the FRM II, released on Youtube.

More than 6 million Euros has been invested by the European Commission in the development of new nuclear fuel in the framework of the LEU FOREvER (Fuel for REsEarch Reactors) project. Of this, half a million has been set aside for the developments at FRM II. Project partners include research institutes as well as industry leaders from five countries, with TUM as the only university.

Scientific pictures often show fantastic motifs – for scientists sometimes not so easy to recognize. For laymen, who do not know the background or genesis, and therefore look at them with a very different look, they reveal a very special beauty that can compete with classical art. Armin Kriele, a member of the Material Science Laboratory of the MLZ, has this other look and also looks with the eyes of an esthete on the scientific pictures that he daily sees.

Together with the VW-VM research company, a collaboration between VW and VARTA Microbattery, scientists from the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ, working group Dr. Ralph Gilles) and the chair of Technical Electrochemistry (Prof. Hubert Gasteiger) of the Technical University of Munich have now investigated for the first time the aging of battery cell prototypes for stationary storage systems with the help of neutrons on the instrument SPODI.

At the age of 86, the emeritus professor Dr. Tasso Springer has now died. He was one of the first pupils of Prof. Dr. Heinz Maier-Leibnitz, discovered and developed together with his mentor the principle of the guiding of neutrons by mirroring (neutron guides) at the atomic egg.

Rechargeable lithium batteries with cathodes comprising nickel, manganese, and cobalt, are viewed as the most potent today. But they, too, have a limited lifespan. Already in the first cycle they lose up to ten percent of their capacity. Why this happens and what can be done to alleviate the ensuing gradual loss of capacity has now been investigated in detail by a team of scientists using positrons at the Technical University of Munich (TUM).

First groundbreaking ceremony for the new science and technology building of the Technical University of Munich as well as the laboratory and office building of the Research Center Jülich for use by the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ): (from left to right) Prof. Dr. Winfried Petry (Scientific Director of Research Neutron Source FRM II), Prof. Dr. Dr. hc Mult. Wolfgang A. Herrmann (President of the Technical University of Munich), Dr. Anton Kastenmüller (Technical Director of the Research Neutron Source FRM II), Prof. Dr. Thomas Brückel (Director of the Jülich Center for Neutron Science and Spokesman of the MLZ Directorate), Stefan Müller MdB (Parliamentary State Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)), Prof. Dr. Dr. hc Mult. Sebastian M. Schmidt (Member of the Board, Research Center Jülich), Dr. Dietmar Gruchmann (First Mayor of the City of Garching).

The Danish company Haldor Topsøe got thanks to the EU project SINE 2020 at ANTARES interesting radiograpies of its electrolysis cells.

The German DFG has granted support for the development of a pulsed positron source that will enable investigations of exotic states of matter and mixes of matter and antimatter with 750,000 euros.

“Forschung aktuell” reports about the construction of a molybdenum-99 facility at the FRM II.

Students can now apply for the Master Program. The application deadlines are different for the country of origin: for non-EU students, they will end on 31 January 2017; EU students must apply until 28 February 2017. All those who do not need a scholarship will have time until 15 May 2017.

There is a strong suspicion that Helicobacter pylori is linked to the development of stomach cancer. Now an international team of researchers led by Prof. Donald R. Ronning (University of Toledo, USA) has used neutrons to unlock the secret to the functionality of an important enzyme in the bacterium’s metabolism. This could be used as a point of attack for new medications. The team made the corresponding measurements at the neutron sources in Oak Ridge (USA) and at the research neutron source reactor FRM II of the Technical University of Munich (TUM).

Anyone who has ever looked out of the window during an intercontinental flight has probably already seen it: cirri, the ice clouds in the upper troposphere (8-12 km high) look like rattled cotton. But also in the lower stratosphere (15-20 km altitude) there are ice clouds, so-called polar stratospheric clouds (abbr. PSCs).

The influence of interactions in high protein concentrations is extremely difficult to quantify experimentally. Neutron scattering experiments performed among other places at the J-NSE instrument at MLZ have now made studies possible in physiological concentrations.

For his commitment to the Campus Choir Garching (CCG), the Technical University of Munich awarded the Karl Max von Bauernfeind Medal to the long-term FRM II employee Franz Michael Wagner.

Johannes Nußbickel follows Dr. Klaus Seebach as Managing Director.

British scientists have elucidated the structure of a vital enzyme with the help of neutrons. This involved the presence of a hydrogen atom. Their results are now published in Nature Communications.

One week of beam time at the PUMA instrument have been enough for international research teams from Beijing and the USA to prove theoretical calculations experimentally. The results bring the global community of superconductors a good deal, because this small, but very important puzzle part has confirmed a theory.

Alexandros Koutsioumpas from Forschungszentrum Jülich has studied the structure of complex lipid membranes at the neutron reflectometer MARIA.

A team of researchers have now found indications of a so-called “spiral spin-liquid” structure in manganese scandium thiospinel single crystals at low temperatures. They used the diffuse scattering neutron time of flight spectrometer (DNS).

In December 2015, Dr. Thorsten Lauer was still working as a postdoc and Thorsten Zechlau as a graduate student at the FRM II. Lauer and Zechlau could convince an investor with their knowledge and their enthusiasm for neutron optics to support the founding of a company on 1 January 2016. “We would not have dreamed of that a year ago”, the two founders say.

On Saturday, 22 October, more visitors were able to visit the research neutron source thanks to a tight planning: 557 came to the FRM II Open Day. Many others used the versatile offer in the physics department. (in German only)

The first “Joint Workshop JCNS and Flipper 2016 – Modern Trends in Neutron Scattering for Magnetic Systems/Single-crystal Diffraction with Polarized Neutrons” was held from 3 -7 October 2016 at the Evangelische Akademie Tutzing on Lake Starnberg, south of Munich.

An international team of scientists has examined high-temperature superconductors at the instrument PANDA. Their resulsts have been published in Nature Communications.

Mechnical engineers of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have observed battery cells during their filling with the help of neutron radiography – and have learned important lessons for the production process.

The VDI-TUM Experts Forum, which is organized at intervals of 2 years from the VDI and the FRM II, took place at the Campus Garching on 15 September 2016. As always, it was fully booked and the organizers of the Technical Committee “Application-oriented non-destructive material and component testing” were again able to offer a whole range of exciting talks. The event was moderated by Dr. Ralph Gilles (TUM). This time the focus was on high-performance materials and their non-destructive testing.

On September 21, in Kiel again a Garching neutron researcher receives the Wolfram Prandl Prize for young scientists in the field of research with neutrons: Dr. Anatoliy Senyshyn. He obtains the prize for his outstanding research in the field of lithium-ion batteries, which he watches in its function in a live hook-up at the atomic level.

Experiments with neutrons reveal minimal corrosion of the top layer of a naturally occurring CO₂ reservoir

The long-term storage of carbon dioxide in porous layers of rock deep underground (carbon capturing and storage, CCS) could contribute to reducing the emission of climate-damaging gases in the atmosphere. An international research team including scientists from Jülich and Aachen investigating a natural 100,000-year-old carbon dioxide (CO₂) reservoir in Utah, USA, have now shown that carbon dioxide dissolved in water remains stored in certain types of rock layers far longer than first envisaged (Nature Communications, DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12268).

The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has given 13.5 million Euros to fund a number of projects at the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ). The projects are to be realized by ten different universities over the next three years, including seven projects at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). The Ministry has also given 2.7 million Euros to support the integration of instruments in the new Neutron Guide Hall East at the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz research neutron source (FRM II).

Physics can also taste very sweet – this is one of the things that the pupils from grade 3 of the elementary school Garching Ost learned during their visit at the Research Neutron Source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz. They made an atom model from toothpicks and marsh mallows and tried their abilities as neutron scatterers at a neutron ball toss.

More than 90 energy researchers from around the world now came to the conference “Neutrons For Energy” in Bad Reichenhall to discuss current results and questions from various areas of energy research with neutrons.

According to Wikipedia, a TAKIN is a goat-like mammal in Asia. Quite different at FRM II: here it is a new and extremely useful software that Tobias Weber, Robert Georgii and Prof. Peter Böni of the MIRA group developed specifically for working with three-axis spectrometers.

Researchers at the Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS) together with German and international partners have for the first time unequivocally detected weak electromagnons by means of neutron scattering. Their studies of hübnerite single crystals (chemical formula: MnWO₄) have established a further building block towards a better understanding of the complex phenomenon that is multiferroicity.

A novel and rare state of matter known as a quantum spin liquid has been empirically demonstrated in a monocrystal of the compound calcium-chromium oxide. What is remarkable about this discovery is that according to conventional understanding, a quantum spin liquid should not be possible in this material. First neutron measurements for this study have been performed on the instrument TOFTOF of MLZ.

Since July 20, the FRM II again delivers neutrons. In the break, employees have finished many tasks: They exchanged the beam plug, which will guide neutrons towards the neutron guide hall east for new instruments. In addition, other maintenance works were carried out as the exchange of thimble tubes in the moderator tank.

Two short films explain vividly the basics of neutron scattering. Starring are next to the two instruments DNS and BioDiff the scientits Dr. Sultan Demirdis and Dr. Tobias Schrader.

Using neutrons, scientists have revealed a possible cause of Alzheimer’s disease. During recent experiments carried out on the instrument TOFTOF at Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum in Garching and two spectrometers at the ILL in Grenoble, they observed an altered mobility of the lipids in model cell membranes with the presence of amyloid-β. This peptide is believed to trigger symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

On July 7, the 11th International Conference on Polarised Neutrons for Condensed Matter Investigations 2016 (PNCMI 2016) in Freising ended.

2013/14 Dr. Peng Cheng worked on the instrument PANDA to develop a concept for a cold three-axis spectrometer, which he now has published together with the MLZ-scientists Dr. Astrid Schneidewind, Dr. Peter Link and Dr. Robert Georgii in the journal Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. Sect. A-Accel. Spectrom. Dect. Assoc. Equip. 821, 17 (2016).

Thirty years into the investigation and the theory still has gaps – researchers worldwide are still attempting to fathom why some materials suddenly become superconductive at specific temperatures. The PUMA and PANDA experiments at the FRMII research neutron source are among the best in the world for investigating certain aspects of the phenomenon. There, scientists have spent the last ten years or so piecing together the picture.
An article about supercoducting contains the 18th edition of “Faszination Forschung” (in English), the scientific journal of the Technical University of Munich. It provides in a semi-annual cycle interesting insights into the scientific world of the Technical University of Munich.

The Scientific Computing Group of MLZ organizes the first school on the simulation software BornAgain, which will take place on 21-22 November 2016 at MLZ Garching. The School will introduce students and researchers working in the field of GISAS or reflectometry in extensive hands-on tutorials to new opportunities for simulating and fitting their data.

The combination of the neutron diffraction techniques and the software program “Umweg” at MLZ is a big step forward to improve neutron studies on many highlighting materials, in order to answer the often difficult question of their real symmetry.

On October 1 a new two-year project will begin, which will serve to study the microscopic structure and dynamics of bulk metallic glasses.

1966 was the birth of neutron backscattering spectroscopy with the first published experiment at the Atomic Egg. For the 50th birthday, the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum and partners organize a workshop on the history of the method and its modern and future innovative applications on 2nd and 3rd September 2016.

Samantha Zimnik was granted with the Laura Bassi price for her outstanding scientific achievements in the field of surface physics at the positron source NEPOMUC.

Experimental physicists Prof. Christian Pfleiderer and Prof. Peter Böni from the physics department of TUM are awarded the European Physical Society’s prestigious Europhysics Prize. The prize is awarded for the “discovery of a skyrmion phase in manganese silicon” and shared with three theoretical physicists: Prof. Alex Bogdanov (Dresden), Prof. Achim Rosch (Cologne) and Prof. Ashvin Vishwanath (Berkeley).

Technical University of Munich and German Engineering Association (VDI) organize for the sixth time an experts meeting at the FRM II on 15th September 2016. This workshop (in German language!) is on high performance materials in use. Registration is possible now.

Transporting electricity without losses is the promise of superconducting materials. Two research teams have studied the new class of iron-based superconductors at the instrument PUMA of the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz centre and independently came to the same surprising result: The superconducting Cooper pairs change their symmetry.

An international research team has discovered the mechanism by which a pharmaceutical excipient from the class of block copolymers improves the solubility of large quantities of a poorly water-soluble active substance. The results form the basis for the development of a drug delivery system better tolerated by the human body.

The magnetic properties of thin film systems with superconducting and ferromagnetic states and an insulating layer in between were never studied before.

For her doctoral thesis “Thermal Conductivity of High Density Uranium-Molybdenum Fuels for Research Reactors” Dr. Tanja Huber is awarded the Karl Wirtz Prize of the German Nuclear Society (KTG) today.

Publication on the catalytic layers of high-temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cells is published online: M. Khaneft et al, Structure and Proton Dynamics in catalytic layers of HT-PEFC, Fuel Cells 2016.

In their latest publication Friedrich and Ursula Wagner have examined the high temperature method more closely by the Prompt Gamma Activation Analysis (PGAA) method to find the optimal conditions for preservation of Iron Age’s artifacts.

With the aid of neutron spectroscopy, dynamic processes have been detected in so-called “LOV photoreceptors” by scientists from Jülich, Aachen, Dusseldorf and Garching. The research has recently been published in “Biophysical Journal” (DOI:10.1016/j.bpj.2016.01.021).

Scientists of the Technical University of Clausthal succeeded the first time using neutrons at FRM II and the PSI to measure the self-diffusion in amorphous silicon.

The combination of different neutron methods allowed measuring the complete spectrum of magnetic excitations.

Forschungszentrum Jülich has begun to develop a concept for cost-efficient neutron sources which could replace mid-sized facilities. The new sources will operate without using reactor-typical chain reactions. Even smaller facilities on a laboratory scale can be set up using the same principle.

Physicists of the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Centre and the Technical University of Munich have shown the enormous benefits of the Positron annihilation induced Auger Electron Spectroscopy (PAES) in the exploration of surfaces.

Students can immediately apply for the MaMaSELF Master program that starts in 2016. The deadline for non-EU students ends on January 31, 2016; EU students have time until February 28, 2016. All, that do not require scholarship, must apply before April 30, 2016.

Prof. Dieter Richter of the Forschungszentrum Jülich (Jülich Centre for Neutron Science) and the Institute of Complex Systems has been awarded the Staudinger-Durrer Prize of the ETH Zürich for his work in the area of soft matter.

On 24 November 2015 the G7 Non Proliferation Directors Group visited the Neutron Source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II) and the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Centre for Neutron Research (MLZ). This visit took place in the framework of the G7 presidency of the Federal Republic of Germany and upon invitation of the Federal Foreign Office.

The Institute of Physics (IOP) and the German Physical Society (DPG) have jointly awarded the Max Born Prize to Christian Pfleiderer of TUM’s Physik-Department.

A key issue with lithium ion batteries is aging. It significantly reduces their potential storage capacity. To date, very little is known about the causes of the aging effects. Scientists from the Department of Technical Electrochemistry and the Research Neutron Source FRM II at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have now come a step closer to identifying the causes in their latest experiments.

An international workshop with more than 30 researchers in attendance was organized by the Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS) on 27-28 October to discuss current and future options for compact accelerator-driven high brilliance neutron sources to serve the international scientific community.

The new detection system is characterized by a dead-time constant of 25ns and a count rate as high as 5MHz at 10% dead-time. Compared to the old detector, this means an improvement of factor 25.

“Neutron Scattering on Nano-Structured Soft Matter: Synthetic- and Bio-Materials” has been the focus of this year’s JCNS Workshop, held from 5 -8 October at the Evangelische Akademie Tutzing on Lake Starnberg.

Unter diesem Titel wird Prof. Dr. Winfried Petry am 10.11.2015 um 19 Uhr in der Reihe Campus Talks in ARD Alpha über Forschung mit Neutronen sprechen.

Usually, harvesting energy and raw materials from plants requires many process steps and aggressive chemicals. To make these processes more efficient and resource saving, researchers are looking for suitable enzymes. Using neutrons, researchers have now investigated the reaction mechanism of an important class of enzymes – the glycosidases. The measurements were made at the neutron sources in Los Alamos and Oak Ridge (USA), as well as at the research neutron source FRM II of the Technical University of Munich (TUM). The results provide the key to improving large-scale technical processing of biomass.

The first Jülich Workshop “Soft Matter and Neutrons GO Energy” took place in Feldafing from 08 – 09 October. Twenty-five scientists exchanged ideas in an interdisciplinary environment on topics related to soft matter and neutron research for sustainable energy supplies.

The FRM II is one of 13 TUM departments and institutions working together with Varta Storage, Kraftwerke Haag and the ZAE Bayern in the project. They have jointly developed and constructed this innovative bulk storage.

How mobile individual polymers are reveals a lot about their macroscopic properties. Neutron researchers at Forschungszentrum Jülich have now found a much easier and more accurate way of investigating the often decisive lateral deflection of molecules. They use ring-shaped molecules as probes, which wrap themselves around the polymer chains and follow their lateral motion.

The MLZ group “Structure Research” invites to a free workshop titled “Solution of Crystal Structures using FOX”. The workshop will be held on December1 from 9-17 in the gate Garching (Lichtenbergstraße 8, 85748 Garching).

On September 13 -17, 2015 the 35th International DyProSo (Dynamical Properties of Solids) will take place at the Education Centre Freising.

Today a new cooperation project starts, which is headed by MLZ partner JCNS: CREMLIN (Connecting Russian and European Measures for Large-scale Research Infrastructures) shall promote the EU-Russia cooperation in the planning, construction and scientific use of large scale facilities.

Manganese silicon is the preferred crystal of scientists going in for magnetic research: it can be manufactured for some time as relatively large single crystal, and is particularly suited to investigate the magnetic properties. Now theoretical and experimental physicists from the TU Munich, the MLZ and the University of Cologne managed to pull off a special coup with this material.

As of today, the European Union rises the neutron source European Spallation Source (ESS) in Lund, Sweden, which is under construction, to a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC).

Dr. Kazuhisa Kakurai, this year’s winner of the Helmholtz International Fellow Award, just arrived at the MLZ. The stay and the experiments he will conduct here at the research neutron source are part of the award.

New Study shows Correlation between Microscopic Structures and Macroscopic Properties

In combination with other methods of investigation, scientists have recently made amazing results with the instrument BIODIFF at MLZ.

This year 373 visitors landed a place in one of the coveted guided tours. All tours offered were already booked up at 7 pm. Many interested visitors therefore had to be rejected.

The popular and well-known open day on the research campus will be replaced this year by a long night, which starts on 27 June at 6 pm and ends at midnight. The FRM II will participate like every year at this event with various actions.

The first external user was Klaus Habicht of the Helmholtz Centre Berlin, who carried out experiments on the instrument TRISP on May 4, 2005.

At the end of March, Prof. Dieter Richter of the Research Centre Jülich not only retires, but also passes his position as MLZ Director to Prof. Thomas Brückel. Officially, Prof. Brückel, however, has already taken the job as MLZ director at the beginning of this year.

First published success of the new Rapid Access Program

The journal Acta Materialia published the results of an experiment with the instrument SPODI at MLZ that allows developing a faster method for structure determination of shape memory alloys of nickel-manganese-indium.

An international group of scientists studied these small pea plants with neutrons to watch them during photosynthesis.

This year the event is dedicated to the International Year of the Light and will therefore deal with the laser and quantum physics (in German only).

The scientists were able to detect structural changes using a model system of phospholipids from soy plants with the help of neutron scattering techniques at the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum in Garching near Munich.

Forschungszentrum Jülich receives around € 4 million from the EU to develop a more efficient detector system for research with neutrons.

Worldwide, battery research is one of the most intensively studied research fields, because – for various reasons – the need for energy storage devices is growing rapidly. Also at the MLZ, several research groups work in this field and try to gain a better understanding of how batteries work by various neutron methods.

For the development of a new fuel with lower enrichment, Uranium-molybdenum (UMo) embedded in an aluminum matrix is a promising candidate. Hsin-Yin Chiang of MLZ has tested several coatings of UMo and qualified the most suitable materials combination.

The registration for the Master’s program MaMaSELF for the years 2015-2017 runs until 31 January (non-European), 27 February (European students) and 30 April 2015 (without scholarship).

Measurements at the three axes spectrometer PUMA have now been published in the renowned journal Nature Communications.

The German TV station Sat 1 Bayern broadcasted a documentary on retina implants on December 29 at 17.30h, where research undertaken by Dr. Neelima Paul of Technische Universität München at MLZ will be shown. (only in German)

Dr. Matthias Rossbach and his team of the Institute of Energy and Climate Research, IEK-6, Nuclear Waste Management and Reactor Safety of the Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH designed and constructed a new instrument for prompt and delayed fission neutron induced reaction Gamma spectrometry.

Measurements using positrons could help to develop better coatings for drugs.

South of the Maier-Leibnitz Laboratory a hall in wood construction is currently being built. From next year on, it will house the mock-up for the cooling systems of the ultracold neutron source at the FRM II.

Recently the Solid State Spectroscopy group in Max-Planck Institute (Stuttgart, led by Prof. Bernhard Keimer) published in Physical Review Letters their results of inelastic neutron scattering under collaboration with scientists at PANDA and PUMA.

Today, several hundred members of the European scientific community gathered at the European Spallation Source (ESS) construction site in Lund, Sweden, for the ESS Foundation Stone Ceremony. German scientists participated from the beginning.

On 23rd of September 2014 Dr. Marc Janoschek has received the Wolfram-Prandl-Prize 2014 of the “Komitee für Forschung mit Neutronen” during the “German Conference for Research with Synchrotron Radiation, Neutrons and Ion Beams at Large Facilities”.

55 students from 13 different countries participated again at the Jülich Centre for Neutron Science Labcourse at MLZ. They learned neutron scattering in lectures in Jülich and based on experiments at the research neutron source FRM II.

Lithium-ion batteries are seen as a solution for energy storage of the future and have become indispensible, especially in electromobility. Their key advantage is that they are able to store large amounts of energy but are still comparatively light and compact.

Start of the 35^th operating cycle: Since today the FRM II provides users and customers from science, industry and medicine after a thorough review again neutrons and irradiation services.

Neutron scattering experiment at PUMA resolves a contentious superconducting issue.

The new Chairman of the Board of Directors of Forschungszentrum Jülich, Prof. Wolfgang Marquardt, has visited the outstation of the Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS) at the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ) in Garching on 23 July.

Two instrument scientists of the MLZ will be part of the eight delegates of the German Neutron scientists: Dr. Wiebke Lohstroh of Technische Universität München and Dr. Astrid Schneidewind of Forschungszentrum Jülich.

The batteries for electric mobility used today are not yet powerful enough, they load too slowly and the range, they provide is still too small for electric vehicles. The FRM II is very much involved in the research on the new super battery.

The Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS) celebrated its extraordinary achievements with a colloquium on the Jülich campus.

Neutrons shed light on vital enzymes’ mechanism of action

Ten years after its first criticality regulations require the FRM II to do extensive tests on its main systems. Goal of these tests is to prove the safe operation of the FRM II for the years to come.

An international research group led by Dr. Vladimir Hutanu has recently been able to measure the magnetic parameters of the Ba₂CoGe₂O₇-crystal at the neutron diffractometer POLI much more accurately than it was previously possible.

Neutrons reveal power play in myelin basic protein

NEUWAVE-6 has now returned to its place of origin in Garching, where 42 experts from 13 different countries discussed recent developments and future plans in an open atmosphere.

Today, the general assembly of the German Atomic Forum DAtF (Deutsches Atomforum e.V.) has confirmed unanimously the election of the DAtF Presidential Council of Prof. Dr. Winfried Petry for Vice President.

In the future, antineutrino detectors may provide an additional option for monitoring. Physicists at Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM) have now found interesting results using fast neutrons from the Heinz Maier Leibnitz Zentrum.

It does not always take a huge accelerator to do particle physics: First results from a low energy, table top alterative takes validity of Newtonian gravity down by five orders of magnitude and narrows the potential properties of the forces and particles that may exist beyond it by more than one hundred thousand times. The technical premises for this measurement was developed at the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum by Researchers of theTechnische Universität München.

The Jülich Centre for Neutron Science organises a laboratory course in neutron scattering with experiments at the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum. Registration is open until May 25th.

The MLZ is present at this year’s Frühjahrstagung of the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft in Dresden until April 4^th.

A typical neutron scattering experiment may last some hours, especially for low concentration biological samples. During that time some delicate samples might degrade and consequently lead to questionable results. A team of researchers is working on an in-situ set up to control the sample quality along time so that the data used to sum up to form a scattering curve can be selected and false data can be discarded.

For exactly ten years the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz research neutron source (FRM II) of the Technische Universitaet München (TUM) has been providing research, industry and medicine with neutrons.

The Forschungs-Neutronenquelle Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II) celebrates its 10^th anniversary on March 2^nd. (German Version only)

The User Office’s blog starts on February 14^th!

The polarized single crystal diffractometer POLI has seen neutrons at its new beam line SR 9a for the first time.

15 students of grade 12 at the Carl-Orff-Gymnasium Unterschleißheim have successfully finished their “W-Seminar” at the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum.

MLZ and FRM II wish happy holidays and a healthy, happy New Year to their staff, users, partners, sponsors and friends.

For the first time Prof. Dr. Tobias Unruh and his team (Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU)) have demonstrated with neutrons how long-chain molecules in their liquid melt move.

Researchers of the Centrum Baustoffe und Materialprüfung at the Technische Universität München (TUM) have obtained new insights into the bonding of water in calcium silicate hydrate by using neutrons on the instrument TOFTOF of the MLZ.

MaMaSELF registration for the year 2014/2015 runs until 26 January 2014.

Using high resolution neutron scattering at the instrument TRISP of the Max-Planck Society at the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ), the lifetime of magnetic spin waves was measured and, for the first time, a correct theory was developed.

The open doors attracted 484 people to the FRM II. Many others caught up with information at the stands of the neutron source and MLZ and listened to the talks.

123 delegates from 21 countries accepted our NEPOMUC research group’s invitation to the 13th International Workshop on Slow Positron Beam Techniques and Applications SLOPOS13 and joined at the Technische Universität München from 15th to 20th September.
This event is part of a series of triennial SLOPOS-conferences.

Experiments with neutrons at the Technische Universität München (TUM) show that the antidepressant lithium accumulates more strongly in white matter of the brain than in grey matter.

Shocked and deeply saddened we have been informed about the passing of Prof. Dr. Klaus Schreckenbach. He suddenly died on September 13th, 2013, being on vacation.

The German Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) supports again the construction and upgrade of scientific instruments at the MLZ..

The first International Conference on imaging with neutrons in archeology and cultural heritage will take place from 9th to 12th of September 2013 at the Physics Department of the Technical University of Munich (TUM, James – Franck -Str. 1) on the Garching research campus.

Jürgen Allgaier from Forschungszentrum Jülich tested a new class of surfactants, which is now applied in commercial colour removers. (article only in German)

More and more bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics. Researchers have used the instrument BioDiff to elucidate the mechanism.

Experts for Neutron Research met in Erlangen at a workshop with materials scientists.

Nowadays lithium ion batteries are commonly used as storage media in portable electronic devices like laptops, smart phones, cameras, etc. …

The registration for the conference NINMACH is possible.

The 13th International Workshop on Slow Positron Beam Techniques and Applications is held at the FRM II from 15th to 20th September 2013.

Efficient and long-lived storage of information in magnetic vortices

Again, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) supports the development of high-precision experiments with ultra-cold neutrons.

FRM II participates in TUM research project to develop local energy buffer systems.

TUM and Helmholtz Centers establish the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum.

By means of neutron scattering, scientists observed an important process that contributes to fatigue in current Li-ion cells.

By means of neutron scattering, the crystallographic structure of a novel material with amazing phenomena at low temperatures was unraveled.

The new multi anvil press of the Bayerisches Geoinstitut of the University of Bayreuth was delivered and put into operation in the new East Hall of the Research Neutron Source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II).

Nearly 500 people took advantage of the opportunity to tour the Research Neutron Source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II).

Neutron experiments show, that the theoretical concept of superfluids by Nobel Prize winner Lev Landau must be corrected in details.

Using neutrons, researchers observed new effects between magnetic and superconducting materials.

Neutrons will contribute to optimizing energy storage systems for future electric cars.

By using neutron scattering experiments, researchers expect to have observed the typical characteristics of a phase transition based on the Higgs mechanism.

Neutron experiments explain how protein-polymer hybrids work.

The trainee Christopher Berkel made a testing machine for a laboratory in North America. It was his final work as part of his training in mechatronics at the Research Neutron Source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II). In March earlier this year, a ship brought the unit to Canada.

150 years ago Sir William Henry Bragg was born. Together with his son Lawrence he established a new research branch: the analysis of crystal structures using x-ray and neutron diffraction.

Neutrons reveal how the oxygen-transporting protein adapts to the body temperature of different species.

During a visit at the Research Neutron Source in Garching a high-ranking official of the Federal Research Ministry emphasized the great importance of science with neutrons for future technologies.

Discovery of skyrmions in an electrical non-conductor promises a new lossless magneto-electronics.

At the Research Neutron Source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II) work begins for a foundation on which a connecting building between the experimental hall and the future neutron guide hall east will be erected.

The Reactor Safety Commission confirmed the high safety standard in the framework of a stress test for research reactors.

4th VDI-TUM expert forum in Garching

After a short fluctuation of current of the external supply, the FRM II was shut down on Saturday, March 24th. The 27th cycle thus ended ahead of time.

The popular seminar for teachers in natural sciences in Zwiesel, Bavaria, which is partly organized by Professor Winfried Petry, will focus on electromobility this year. Registration is open until April 13th.

New user survey: Your experience and opinion is requested!

We kindly ask all our users to participate in the current user survey regarding sample envirnoment. Your feedback will give us the possibility to improve your work at the FRM II!

Our neutron source has been taken back into operation on February 23rd after the exchange of a bearing had been completed successfully.

Die Forschungs-Neutronenquelle wird am Freitag, 17. Februar, planmäßig abgefahren, um ein Kugellager auszutauschen.

The world’s strongest neutron beam is produced by the scientific instrument PGAA at the FRM II. But that is not all: During the long maintenance break in 2011, the PGAA (Prompt Gamma Activation Analysis) was improved to give it the best ratio between usable neutrons and noisy background radiation worldwide.

For the second time, the neutron source receives financial support of the7th European Framework Programme.

A workshop on subject of micromagnetic theory and related experimental aspects of small-angle neutron scattering is held on 21-22 of June 2012.

Professor Walter Hälg, one of the pioneers of neutron scattering and reactor technology in Switzerland, died after short illness on December 28, 2011 in Baden/Switzerland.

Using small angle neutron scattering at the instrument MIRA at the FRM II and V4 at the Helmholtz Centre Berlin, Tim Adams of the TU München physics department has delivered the missing microscopic evidence for the topological characteristics of a long reaching skyrmion lattice.

Engineers and physicists around the ANTARES Neutron Imaging Team at the FRM II research reactor have invented a reusable shielding material for neutron- and gamma-radiation.

For the first time, members of the Green Party “Bündnis 90 – Die Grünen” visited the neutron source on Tuesday, November 8th.

After the long maintenance break the neutron source produces neutron beams for research, industry and medicine since October 29th.

Prof. Dr. Christian Pfleiderer at the chair of experimental physics E 21 of the TUM physics department receives a European grant for the research on stable magnetic vortices using neutrons.

A successful specification test: The sample environment group of the instruments operated by the Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS) at the FRM II offers an vertical 5 Tesla cryomagnet in the near future. After a test phase, the cryomagnet will be available for routine operation in spring 2012.

The Committee Research with Neutrons (KFN) has published a new bilingual brochure.

Josef Waronitza has finished his apprenticeship in mechatronics at the FRM II with an excellent grade. He is one of the best in his school in Munich.

The apprentices for IT service at the FRM II, Alexander Lenz and Christoph Kick, have finished their school with grade 1.

For the first time, the international Advanced Summer School in Radiation Detection and Measurements took place in Munich. Karl Zeitelhack of the FRM II had co-organized the school and guided the students in the neutron source.

In approximately 50 contributions, the cooperation partners FRM II, JCNS, HZG and HZB have enriched the European Conference on Neutron Scattering (ECNS) in Prague.

Ten FRM II staff members took part at the company run b2run on July 21st in Munich. Stefan Söllradl became 31st with 20:35 min.

A physicist of the Technische Universitaet Muenchen has examined tissues using neutrons at the FRM II and found, that the antidepressant lithium is more dominant in some areas of the human brain than others.

The German Federal Ministry of Health has awarded more than one million euros in research and development funding for the efficient production of an important cancer diagnostic agent at the research neutron source FRM II.

The neutron source FRM II and the chair E13 of the physics department honoured Prof. Dr. Winfried Petry in a colloquium on the occasion of his 60th birthday.

Researchers at the TUM have developed a new treatment method based on the Terbium-161 radionuclide to treat smaller tumors and metastases in a more targeted way. The nuclide was produced at the FRM II.

The new coordination committee for the scientific use of the neutron source has met for its constitutional meeting on June 6th. The members elected Prof. Dr. Sebastian Schmidt, board member of the Forschungszentrum Jülich, chairman.

The first long maintenance break of the FRM II will be continued for some weeks. The length will be defined by the exchange of the bushings in the cooling system of the heavy water tank.

The reconstruction of the entrance building at the neutron source is finished. Now, scientists and visitors can enter the FRM II in a lucid and friendly entrance hall.

Data measured at the high resolution spectrometer TRISP at the neutron source FRM II contradict a theory about one-dimensional spin ladders. The results have been published in Physical Review Letters online.

Recent work by researchers from the University of Manchester, along with colleagues from FRM II at TU München have managed to provide a detailed description of the magnetic interactions between cobalt(II) ions for the first time.

Professor Heinz Maier-Leibnitz would have turned 100 years on March 28th 2011. To celebrate his birthday, the FRM II honours the great physicist and co-founder of the physics department at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM) by organizing a colloquium.

The research neutron source has again taken an major step in its long maintanance break: The beam tube no. 11, which creates positrons for the positron source NEPOMUC, has been replaced.

The construction of the new irradiation facility to produce molybdenum-99 has taken an important step forward. Since the beginning of February, the new thimble has been integrated into the moderator tank of the FRM II.

The neutron source had an anniversary in 2010: The FRM II has been operated in its 25th cycle since its commissioning in 2004.

In order to offer an x-ray facility complementary to the neutron tomography station ANTARES, the FRM II and the Chair for Biomedical Physics at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen have started to operate a new computer tomography facility.