Scope of School

Scientific Background

The MATRAC 2 School provides a focused introduction to the fundamental principles and experimental techniques used in the analysis of advanced engineering materials through neutron and synchrotron radiation.

Neutron and synchrotron radiation sources offer unique capabilities for probing materials non-destructively – both at the surface and deep within the bulk.

Participants will explore a range of methods that are increasingly important in materials science, particularly in the design, processing, and evaluation of advanced materials:
• neutron-absorption induced secondary radiation that can be used to determine the elemental composition of materials,
• imaging methods such as tomography that offers 3D insights into microstructural features,
• diffraction techniques for the determination of crystalline phase fractions, texture, and residual stresses,
• small-angle scattering and reflectometry for the characterization of “large” structures such as precipitates,
• and neutron spectroscopy to determine the dynamics of atoms on a pico- to nanosecond scale.

The school emphasizes fundamental understanding, hands-on experimental training, and data analysis. Students will gain practical experience with instrumentation and measurement techniques during experiments conducted at the MLZ in Garching near Munich.

As the demand for advanced materials continues to grow, so does the need for precise, multi-scale structural analysis. MATRAC 2 addresses this need by equipping participants with the knowledge and skills to select appropriate neutron and synchrotron techniques for a wide range of materials science challenges.