Neutrons for science: The history of Institut Laue-Langevin, an exceptionally successful international collaboration

Bernard Jacrot

Open Access Published by EDP Sciences 2021

Neutrons for science

The history of Institut Laue-Langevin, an exceptionally successful international collaboration

Bernard Jacrot

https://doi.org/10.1051/978-2-7598-2255-3

Overview
Contents

About this book

In 1967, France and Germany agreed to cooperate on the construction and commissioning of a nuclear reactor dedicated to research in physics, chemistry and biology. Thus was born the Institut Laue-Langevin, a project whose aim was to provide research scientists with an extremely intense source of neutron beams, a fundamental tool for probing the mysteries of matter. Britain soon joined the project, followed gradually by other countries both from western and eastern Europe, making the Institut Laue-Langevin a particularly successful example of European cooperation. This success is a clear illustration of how, by joining forces and skills in this way, it was possible to provide scientists from “the old continent” with the means to tackle ambitious projects by giving them the best neutron source in the world. Neutrons for Science tells the story of the beginnings of this project and shows how, with the right organisation, it was possible to optimise the use of the reactor. The book also paints the portraits of three eminent figures, Jules Horowitz, Heinz Maier-Leibnitz and Louis Néel, who played a key role in this success. In this English edition, a chapter has been added covering the period 2004-2018 in order to create a link with the modern era and highlight the dynamism that has marked the Institute since it was founded.

Topics

Frontmatter Open Access Download PDF	i
Table of contents Open Access Download PDF	v
Bernard Jacrot Open Access Download PDF	vii
Introduction. Why write a history of the ILL? Open Access Download PDF	ix
1. Pre-history Open Access Download PDF	1
2. Portraits of three founders of the ILL Open Access Download PDF	17
3. Why invest so much money in a source of neutrons? Open Access Download PDF	33
4. The negotiations Open Access Download PDF	45
5. The construction of the reactor and the scientific groups Open Access Download PDF	59
6. The start of research activities and the arrival of the British Open Access Download PDF	103
7. Maturity Open Access Download PDF	113
8. The dark years Open Access Download PDF	127
9. Consolidation and the future Open Access Download PDF	137
10. Conclusion: an appraisal Open Access Download PDF	141
11. The ILL between 2005 and 2018 Open Access Download PDF	153
Chronology of ILL events Open Access Download PDF	169
Key people involved in the history of the ILL Open Access Download PDF	171
Appendixes.. Some historical documents Open Access Download PDF	179
Acknowledgements. Past and present Open Access Download PDF	193
Postscript. Translator’s note Open Access Download PDF	195
Credits for the illustrations Open Access Download PDF	197

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: EDP Sciences
Audience: College/higher education;
Pages
- Main content: 208
Keywords: science history

eBook

Published: July 30, 2021
ISBN: 9782759822553