Beamlines and laboratories

• ID09A High pressure I
• ID16 Inelastic Scattering I
• ID18 Nuclear Resonance I
• ID22N Nuclear Resonance II
• ID26 High-brilliance X-ray spectroscopy beamline
• ID27 High pressure II
• ID28 Inelastic Scattering II
• Large Volume Press (currently on ID06)

Synopsis

The scientific programmes of the group cover all classical domains of natural sciences with a significant impact in applied fields such as Earth, environmental and planetary science, catalysis, soft matter, material synthesis, and nanoscience.

High pressure structural studies employ monochromatic (angle-dispersive) diffraction using diamond anvil cells (DAC) to pressures beyond 200 GPa and in temperature from 5-5000K. The DAC techniques are complemented by the Paris-Edinburgh press (on ID27), and the Large Volume Press (LVP), located on ID06, and currently in its commissioning phase.

Structural dynamics such as collective excitations in disordered materials and phonons in crystalline materials are investigated by inelastic X-ray or by nuclear inelastic scattering. Furthermore, nuclear resonance scattering allows the study of diffusion and rotational motions directly in the time domain.

Electronic and magnetic properties are studied utilising nuclear resonant scattering (including their corresponding dynamics in the nanosecond to microsecond time regime), X-ray absorption (XAS) and X-ray emission spectroscopies (XES). XAS-XES is employed for chemical characterisation including (in-situ) studies of low Z elements as well as valence shell and collective excitations in inorganic compounds.

Science

Fields of research include coordination chemistry and reaction kinetics, correlated electron systems, Earth and planetary science, magnetic and electronic properties, material structure and synthesis, nanoscale materials, soft matter and glasses.

Techniques

Techniques include X-ray diffraction, inelastic X-ray scattering, nuclear resonance scattering, (time-resolved) absorption and emission spectroscopy.

Highlight areas

Nanoscience and nanotechnology, pump and probe experiments and time-resolved science, science at extreme conditions, structural and functional biology and soft matter.