Contact: Dr Antonella Scherillo – [email protected]
Located alongside Diamond Light Source on the Harwell Campus, the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source is the site’s second major accelerator facility. ISIS generates intense beams of neutrons and muons that enable researchers to investigate materials at the atomic and molecular scale. Its suite of highly specialised instruments—often referred to as “super-microscopes”—is designed to probe a wide range of scientific questions across physics, chemistry, engineering, and heritage science. Because neutron and muon methods are non-destructive and offer sensitivity to light elements, magnetic structures, and bulk properties, they provide insights that are difficult or impossible to obtain using other analytical techniques.
ISIS has an established history of supporting heritage science, with a dedicated review panel for cultural-heritage research proposals. Neutron diffraction instruments such as GEM, POLARIS, INES, and ENGIN-X allow researchers to examine crystal structures deep within intact archaeological artefacts or artworks without the need for sampling. In addition, IMAT, the neutron imaging instrument, makes it possible to visualise internal features non-invasively. Over the years, ISIS has contributed to studies of diverse objects ranging from 12,000-year-old prostate stones to ancient weapons.
ISIS Heritage Science Highlights
Capabilities
- Non-destructive bulk structural characterisation
- Elemental and isotopic sensitivity (particularly to light elements)
- Quantification of isotopic composition
- High-resolution imaging and tomography of internal structures
- Determination of molecular and magnetic arrangements
Pros
- Excellent penetration depth, allowing true bulk analysis
- Non-destructive and suitable for large or irregularly shaped samples
- Sensitivity to light elements and magnetic ordering
- Complementary to X-ray methods (different scattering contrasts)
Cons
- Samples typically must remain onsite for a cooling/decay period after irradiation
- Beamtime experiments can be slower compared to some X-ray or lab-based techniques
- Access is subject to proposal schedules and competitive allocation