The Neutron, a Tool and an Object for Fundamental and Nuclear Physics Studies

About

The Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) is an international research institute which operates the currently most powerful source of neutrons in the world, a 58 MW reactor. The neutron beams provided by the reactor feed a broad range of instruments which are dedicated to a wide variety of research activities. The majority of instruments are dedicated to the study of solid-state physics, materials science, chemistry, the biosciences, and earth sciences. However, nuclear and low energy particle physics studies are also vigorously pursued with the aid of neutrons. The talk will mainly concentrate on this latter aspect. We make use of hot, thermal, cold, and ultra-cold neutrons with velocities of between a few kilometers and a few meters per second, corresponding to kinetic energies in the electronvolt-to-nanoelectronvolt range. It will be briefly discussed how thermal neutrons can be used to investigate the structure and behavior of nuclei by generating excited nuclear states. The main part of the talk will be dedicated to experiments with cold and ultra-cold neutrons which are a suitable tool for investigating subtle aspects of the four known fundamental forces of Nature - electromagnetism, the weak and the strong forces, and gravity.

Organiser(s): Daniel Treille / PH-EP Unit

Note: Tea & coffee will be served at 16:00 hrs..

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