Opening Remarks & Introduction to Neutron Science
Dr. Yoshie Otake
RIKEN
Dr Yoshie OTAKE received her PhD in 1989 from Waseda Univ. on quantum coherency issues related to neutron interferometry. She then joined the development of multilayer interferometry and the U-SANS (USL) experiment at JRR3 (JAEA), and also carried out neutron EDM exploratory experimental research at ILL. She also carried out R&D activities at SPring8 from 1996 to 2002.
She participated in a project to develop an accelerator-based compact neutron source system, which is a new approach at RIKEN, and has been the RIKEN compact neutron systems RANS project leader since 2013, aiming to make neutron beams available at manufacturing and infrastructure sites, the project aims to enable the use of neutron beams at manufacturing and infrastructure sites under the slogan 'Neutron anytime, anywhere'. In addition to imaging experiments, RANS enables engineering diffraction, SANS, and fast neutron scattering imaging by utilizing the characteristics of a pulsed neutron source. scattering and fast neutron scattering imaging, taking advantage of the characteristics of the pulsed neutron source, in addition to imaging experiments. The neutron salt meter RANS-µ (Cf source) is being put into practical use, with measurements on real bridges starting in FY2023.
She is serving her second term as Presicent of JSNS (the Japanese Society of Neutron Science) beginning in 2025 and continues her work to achieve Science Diversity and a bright future for neutron science in the neutron community.
Activities of the AONSA
Activities of the IAEA
Ms Valentina Semkova
International Atomic Energy Agency
Introduction to Muon Science
Prof. Tadashi Adachi
Sophia University
Prof. Tadashi Adachi obtained his Ph.D. from Tohoku University in 2001 for his research on the electronic states of high-temperature superconducting cuprates. Since then, he has pursued studies on the synthesis and the elucidation of electronic states of superconducting materials. He has fabricated single crystals and thin film samples, conducting measurements of transport and magnetic properties. His research covers a diverse range of materials, including cuprates, nickelates, iron chalcogenides, and honeycomb-network superconductors. Immediately after earning his degree, he began studying spin dynamics using muon spin relaxation which has become a distinctive aspect of his work to date. His primary experimental facilities include J-PARC, ISIS, and PSI. Additionally, he employs neutron scattering and X-ray absorption spectroscopy using synchrotron X-rays, utilizing complementary quantum beam techniques to advance his research. Starting this fiscal year, he has been appointed Chairman of the Society of Muon and Meson Science of Japan, where he is working to promote the advancement of muon and meson science, foster quantum beam collaboration, and further invigorate academic society activities.
Neutron Diffraction
Prof. Yusuke Nambu
Kyoto University
Prof. Nambu obtained his Ph.D. from Kyoto University in 2009. He was a JSPS Research Fellow (2006–2009), followed by a JSPS Postdoctoral Fellow for Research Abroad at Johns Hopkins University (2009–2010), and a Guest Researcher at the NIST Center for Neutron Research (2009–2010). He then served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Tokyo (2010–2012) and Tohoku University (2012–2015), before being promoted to Associate Professor at Tohoku University (2015–2025). He also held the title of Distinguished Researcher at Tohoku University (2020–2024). Since 2025, he has been serving as a Program-Specific Professor at Kyoto University. His current research interests include spintronics, magnonics, frustrated magnetism, and iron-based superconductivity, with a focus on neutron diffraction and scattering techniques.
Neutron Imaging
Prof. Takashi Kamiyama
Hokkaido University
Professor Kamiyama studied at Tohoku University, where he obtained his Bachelor's and Master's degrees. He then received his PhD from Tohoku University for his work on the inelastic neutron scattering of molecular liquids. In 1996, he joined at Hokkaido University, where he has worked in the field of various neutron engineering at the Hokkaido University Neutron Source (HUNS) ever since. His research interests focus on the neutron applications in science, engineering, and industry. He has been involved in developing neutron sources for compact facilities and neutron devices such as 2D detectors (GEM, NII, etc.), as well as new techniques such as N/X integration and neutron spectroscopic imaging.
Muon Spin Rotation/Relaxation
Dr. Francis L. Pratt
STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Francis Pratt completed his physics doctorate at Oxford University in 1985 and subsequently spent time in postdoctoral positions in Oxford and Sendai before joining the RIKEN-RAL Muon Facility at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL). Since 2000 he has been a member of the ISIS Muon Group at RAL, where he is currently an STFC Fellow. His research interests cover applications of μSR in condensed matter science, with a particular focus on quantum matter and the provision of computational support for muon spectroscopy.
Muonic X-ray Measurements
Dr. Akira Sato
Osaka University
Dr. Akira Sato obtained his Ph.D. in experimental hadron physics from Science University of Tokyo in 2001. He subsequently moved to Osaka University as a postdoctoral researcher, where he has been dedicated to the development of high-intensity muon sources and their application in particle physics experiments (PRISM, COMET), as well as promoting the utilization of muons in various applications. Dr. Sato played a key role in establishing the DC muon facility MuSIC at Osaka University's Research Center for Nuclear Physics, where he also serves as the facility's leader. At MuSIC, he collaborates with users to advance research primarily using negative muons. His work includes non-destructive analysis using muon X-rays, particularly applied to non-destructive elemental analysis of archaeological materials and meteorites. Recently, he has been actively involved in the development of imaging techniques for elemental distribution.
Inelastic Scattering
Prof. Jae-Ho Chung
Korea University
Professor Chung received his BS and MS in Inorganic Materials Engineering from Seoul National University, South Korea. His career in neutron scattering began 25 years ago during the PhD course in Materials Science at University of Pennsylvania, USA. After completing his PhD study of phonon excitation in high Tc cuprates in 2004, he spent four years at the NIST Center for Neutron Research, USA, as an instrument scientist in charge of the SPINS cold-neutron triple-axis spectrometer. Since his return to Korea in 2007, he has been working as a faculty member of the Department of Physics at Korea University. His primary research interest is in utilizing neutron and X-ray scattering methods to study lattice/magnetic ordering and excitations in strongly correlated electronic systems. His recent research topics include topological spin excitations, quantum spin liquids, spin supersolids, etc.
Quasi-elastic Scattering
Prof. Maiko Kofu
University of Tokyo
Maiko Kofu obtained her Ph.D. degree from the Physics Department at Tohoku University (2005). She has been working as a postdoctoral fellow at High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (2005–2006), a research associate at the University of Virginia (2006–2009), an assistant professor at Institute for Solid State Physics (ISSP), the University of Tokyo (2009–2016), and an instrument scientist of the chopper spectrometer AMATERAS at MLF, J-PARC (2016-2024). Currently, she is a Professor at ISSP (2025-) and is responsible for the chopper spectrometer AGNES at JRR-3. Her research is focused on investigating dynamics of atoms/molecules or spins in a variety of materials using neutron spectroscopy.
Small-Angle Scattering
Dr Anna Sokolova
ANSTO
Dr Anna Sokolova is an Instrument scientist for the Bilby Small Angle Neutron Scattering instrument, Bilby, at ACNS, ANSTO.
Dr Sokolova is a physicist originally from the Small Angle Scattering Laboratory at the Institute of Crystallography of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) completed her PhD in Condensed Matter Physics from the Institute of Crystallography RAS (Moscow, Russia) and European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL, Hamburg outstation c/o Deutsche Electronen Synchrotron, Germany) led by Dr D. Svergun. Her original areas of study were focused on the development of new methods for small-angle scattering data analysis and interpretation, as well as, on the application of the SAXS technique to protein structure studies. From year 2009 till start of the user service in 2025, she was a Project Leader for the design, construction and commissioning of the ToF SANS Bilby machine. One area of her deep interest and experience is in the area of SANS instrumentation and non-conventional data reduction procedures. From 2019 till 2024 Anna was chairing the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel for the SANS instruments at the ESS (European Spallation Source) in Sweden. During year of working on the instrument with researchers from a wide range of scientific fields, Anna’s interests have expanded significantly. In recent years, she has worked with various projects to study an extensive range of materials, from surfactants to vortex line lattices and skyrmions, often using complex sample environments.
Neutron Reflectometry
Prof. Sungkyun Park
Pusan National University
Prof. Park received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Physics from Pusan National University , Korea, and completed his Ph.D. in Physics at the University of Arizona , USA, in 2001. He then pursued postdoctoral research specializing in polarized neutron reflectometry (PNR) at the Lujan Neutron Scattering Center , Los Alamos National Laboratory (2001–2005), and later at the Intense Pulsed Neutron Source (IPNS) , Argonne National Laboratory (2005–2006).
From 2006 to 2008, he served as the head of the Surface Science Research Team at the Korea Basic Science Institute (Busan Center) . Since 2008, Prof. Park has been a faculty member in the Department of Physics at Pusan National University , where he leads research in interfacial physics and materials characterization.
His work focuses on the modulation of physical properties at material interfaces , employing advanced spectroscopic techniques, including PNR and synchrotron radiation-based methods . His research aims to uncover the fundamental mechanisms governing interfacial phenomena in complex materials systems, particularly those relevant to energy applications and condensed matter physics.
Muon Quest from the Elementary Physics to Tumulus Investigation
Prof. Hiromi Iinuma
Ibaraki University
Prof. Iinuma studied at Yokohama National University for her BS and at Nagoya University for her MS. Then she received Ph.D. in 2006 at Kyoto University. Her research interests have been focused on particle and nuclear physics with spin probe. After she worked on absolute polarimeter of the polarized proton beam at RHIC-SPIN program at Brookhaven National Laboratory, she has been working on a new muon g-2/EDM experiment at J-PARC from 2008. She will give an introduction talk how to approach a physics beyond the Standard Model by use of muon spin presession, applying a brand-new experimental technique. Now, Let's go to "muon quest".
Short Lectures: Neutron Production
Dr. Hiroshi Takada
J-PARC Center/Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA)
Dr. Hiroshi TAKADA joined Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (currently Japan Atomic Energy Agency) in April 1988 after completing his master’s degree in engineering at the Kyushu University. His research interests were experimental studies of proton-induced spallation neutron production and transport in thick targets and improvement of nucleon-meson transport code in 1990s. He earned Ph D from Kyushu University in 2004. Since 2002, he was strongly involved in the design and construction of the 1-MW Spallation neutron source of Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility (MLF) at the J-PARC, and then responsible for the operations and R&Ds of the neutron source components as the section leader from 2012 to 2018. He was appointed to the Facility manager of MLF for 2 years up to 2023. Currently, he is engaged in technical guidance of staff based on his experience and knowledge of neutron source operations.
Short Lectures: Muon Production
Dr. Takayuki Yamazaki
J-PARC Center/High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK)
Dr. Yamazaki is the lead instrument scientist for the high-intensity muon beamline, H-line, at J-PARC. He graduated from the University of Tokyo, receiving his PhD in Science in 2012. He began his postdoctoral work at the International Center for Elementary Particle Physics (ICEPP) at the University of Tokyo in Japan. He participated in several tabletop experiments using positroniums and various light sources to search for new physics beyond the Standard Model of Particle Physics. In 2017, he became an instrument scientist at the J-PARC Center. He constructed the H-line and is currently engaged in user support and fundamental physics experiments using its high-intensity muon beam. His research interests include muon beamline optics, muon and muonium physics.
