The neutron is a subatomic particle more than 10 billion (10,000,000,000) times smaller than the width of a human hair. However, these tiny particles provide researchers with an incredibly powerful tool for investigating the properties of matter on an atomic scale. In this workshop, we will provide students with an introduction to neutron scattering – an experimental technique which is used to study the structure of materials (how atoms are arranged) and their dynamics (how atoms move and the nature of the forces that bind them together). We will learn about Bert Brockhouse, the Nobel prize winning physicist from McMaster who helped to develop this technique, and visit the McMaster Nuclear Reactor, home to the only neutron scattering research facility in the country. Find out what neutron beams can tell us about everything from magnets and high temperature superconductors to batteries, red blood cells, and 3D printed steels.
