Outstanding Research with Neutrons: Awards for Young Researchers at the DN2024 in Aachen
19 September 2024
Text: Karin Griewatsch, KFN
Image: Micha Hölzle, Forschungszentrum Jülich
Around 200 researchers attended the German Conference on Neutron Scattering 2024 (DN2024) in Aachen from 16-18 September 2024, organized by the Komitee Forschung mit Neutronen (KFN), Forschungszentrum Jülich and RWTH Aachen University. The focus was on the use of neutrons for a wide range of issues, from energy materials and the effect of medicines to the origin of the universe. On 16 September 2024, the KFN awarded prizes to Dr Leonardo Chiappisi (Institut Laue-Langevin, ILL, France) for his research on polymer-based soft matter and Dr Paul Zakalek (Forschungszentrum Jülich) as well as Dr Bruno Baumeister and Dr Christian Reiter (both TU Munich) for the further development of neutron sources.
We encounter soft matter in various forms in everyday life: biological matter, foams, food, ink, tyres, etc. Leonardo Chiappisi received the prestigious Wolfram-Prandl Prize 2024 from the KFN for his outstanding work on the underlying thermodynamics. His research is the basis for tailored structures and functionalities, e.g. of coatings, membranes and liquid foams.
Bruno Baumeister and Christian Reiter received one of two KFN Instrumentation Prizes 2024 for jointly bringing on the way the conversion of the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Research Neutron Source (FRM II) to a low-enriched uranium fuel while maintaining its scientific performance - a challenging task whose solution is attracting great interest worldwide due to its transferability to other research reactors.
Paul Zakalek received the other KFN Instrumentation Prize 2024 for his pioneering contributions to the development of the High Brilliance Neutron Source (HBS), the world's first High-Current Accelerator-driven Neutron Source (HiCANS). Among other things, he developed its target and moderator, the heart of the facility, which for the first time produced neutrons on the premises of Forschungszentrum Jülich in December 2022.
Scattering experiments with neutrons can help answer questions that are difficult to address using other methods, questions concerning the magnetic properties of matter, the internal properties of solid structures or sensitive cultural artefacts, or the way drugs work. In addition, radioisotopes can be used to visualise tumours and devise gentler treatments. The German Neutron Scattering Conference therefore brings together experts and users as well as researchers from different disciplines from Germany, Europe and around the world. A particular focus of the conference is the further development of existing and new types of neutron sources, currently promoted not only in Germany but all over the world due to the importance of research with neutrons.
The Komitee Forschung mit Neutronen represents scientists who work with neutrons or who are closely associated with research using neutrons. On its website, the KFN offers a wide range of information for researchers and the interested public. The KFN prizes are funded in equal parts by the neutron facilities Hereon, ESS, FRM II, JCNS and ILL.
Further information on the KFN prizes can be found at:
https://www.sni-portal.de/de/nutzervertretungen/komitee-forschung-mit-neutronen/kfn-preise
Contact:
Public Relations KFN
Karin Griewatsch
kfnadmin@sni-portal.de
KFN Chair
Prof. Dr. Mirijam Zobel
zobel@ifk.rwth-aachen.de
Chair of DN2024
Prof. Dr. Mirijam Zobel
zobel@ifk.rwth-aachen.de
Prof. Dr. Karen Friese
k.friese@fz-juelich.de