SNI2022: 400 experts met in Berlin
Group picture from the SNI Conference 2022, which met from 05-07 September 2022 in the "Rostlaube" of the Freie Universität Berlin. © M. Setzpfandt/HZB
The winners of the KFN Prizes 2022: Dr. Navid Qureshi , (ILL, left), receives the Wolfram Prandl Prize 2022 and Dr. Artur Glavic (PSI, right), receives the KFN Instrumentation Prize 2022. © privat/M. Dzambegovic/PSI
Around 400 scientists exchanged ideas at the German Conference for Research with Synchrotron Radiation, Neutrons and Ion Beams at Large Facilities (SNI2022), which took place in Berlin from 05-07 September 2022. Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) was the organiser of the conference. The Committee Research with Neutrons (KFN) awarded prizes to two young scientists. The prizes went to Dr Navid Qureshi (Institut Laue-Langevin, ILL, France) and Artur Glavic (Paul Scherrer Institute, PSI, Switzerland).
Complex magnetic phenomena are not only scientifically interesting, but also the basis for applications such as superconductivity, new types of storage media in IT and even quantum computers that work with tiny magnetic structures such as skyrmions. Neutron scattering is particularly well suited for investigating such phenomena in solids.
KFN awarded two scientists
Dr. Navid Qureshi from the Institut Laue-Langevin, ILL, France, receives the prestigious Wolfram-Prandl Prize 2022, which was first awarded exactly 20 years ago. The Research with Neutrons Committee (KFN) recognised the enormous progress he had made in the use of polarised neutrons. By combining different methods, he was able to gain new insights into complex magnetic phenomena.
Dr. Artur Glavic from the Paul Scherrer Institute, PSI, Switzerland, receives the inaugural KFN Instrumentation Prize for his significant contribution to the development and construction of novel neutron reflectometers that can be used for studies of magnetic systems. With this prize, the KFN would like to emphasise the importance of methodological developments and encourage the prize winners to continue their careers in this direction.
Bringing together scientists from different fields
In total, the conference brought together around 400 researchers from Germany and Europe. At large-scale research facilities such as the HZB, the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Centre MLZ in Garching, the German Electron Synchrotron DESY in Hamburg or the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research in Darmstadt, the ILL in France and the PSI in Switzerland, the focus is on both basic research and application-oriented research on topics such as the energy transition, health and the environment. Special focal points of the conference were instrumentation as well as in-situ and operando studies of materials in their natural environment and during processes.
At the large-scale research facilities, scientists from all over the world and from different disciplines work together extremely successfully. Every three years, they elect their interest groups, the Committees for Research with Neutrons (KFN), Synchrotron Radiation (KFS) and Nuclear Probes and Ions (KFSI). These committees network the research community, initiated the conference and offer a wide range of information for researchers and the interested public on their websites.
The conference was supported by the Berlin Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises.