Committee Research with Neutrons (KFN)

The elected representation of neutron researchers in Germany (German Committee Research with Neutrons, KFN) desrcibes 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 under consideration of all necessary safety aspects to allow the efficient use of FRM II, which will be the only neutron source in Germany in the upcoming years. [more]

In the last weeks, three grand experimental physicists and neutron researchers died: Prof. Dr. Erich Steichele, Prof. Dr. Johann Peisl and Prof. Dr. Otto Schärpf, SJ. We want to commemorate them and their merits. Erich Steichelebuilt the first neutron guides on the basis of float gas and directed the construction of the first tim-of-flight diffractometer with a 150 m long neutron guide at the Atom-Egg in Garching. His contribution to the first instrumentation of FRM II was substantial. Optimation of the beam tube tips, the "Tanzboden" and the flipped neutron guides of REFSANS are based on his ideas and work. As did Erich Steichele, also Otto Schärpf dedicated his career to neutron research. At ILL he advanced the development of polarized neutrons from 1979 on. There, he realized a completely new type of instrument for the analysis of cold neutrons. As member of the Jesuit order, he als gave spiritual assistance to his collegues and their families. Johann Peisl held the chair of experimental physics at the LMU München from 1974 to 2000 and conducted research in a broad spectrum of structure analysis on solid phases, defects and interfaces with X-ray and neutron scattering. Many of his students are today in important positions using scattering with neutrons and synchrotron radiation. He was founding member of the first KFN (1987-1990). [more]

The committees which represent the users in  ErUM (Exploration of the Universe and Matter) have published recommendataions on digital transformation in fundamental research on universe and matter. The paper is based on workshop involving the users and the intensive coordination of the committees research with neutrons (KFN), ions and nuclear probes (KFSI), synchrotron radiation (KFS), astroparticle Physics (KAT), particle physics (KET), accelerator physics (KfB), hadron and nuclear physics (KHuK) an the Council of German Observatories (RDS). It is part of the preparations for the new action plan ErUM data of the BMBF which aims at funding digital transformation in the research area. It is all about data management, standards, storage, accessibility of data and the use of artificial intelligience and other chances of digitalisation.[more]