Quantum Materials

Assessments of national facilities dedicated to neutron beams in the U.S. and U.K. found that they produce social and economic benefits worth at least double the investment. Canada, with its multipurpose neutron source model, is realizing a return on investment in its neutron facilities of at least 3 times.

The research community that leveraged neutron beams to revolutionize computer hard drives is now paving the way for future quantum innovations.

Experiments at the Canadian Neutron Beam Centre (CNBC) confirmed one of the theoretical predictions of this year’s winners of the Nobel Prize in Physics.

Access to neutron beams enables graduate students to conduct experiments in quantum magnetism—and thereby to develop advanced experimental and computational skills that can be readily applied to future careers in science and industry.

Former McMaster PhD student Dalini Maharaj studies novel magnetic materials that could very well usher in the next generation data storage technology, particularly in disk drive read-and-write heads. In principle, one could reduce the size of the data storage unit if the data density could be increased in these hard-disks.

Everyone is waiting for the next big technological leap. As devices grow in complexity, the limits of materials and hardware are pushed toward their energetic and physical limits. Materials researchers across the globe redesign and tweak hardware to extend capabilities, but before too long these roadblocks will be unavoidable.

Université de Montréal scientists use neutron beams in their search for materials that could have revolutionary applications in computing technology. Their search was made possible by fundamental discoveries that were recognized by the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics.

Dalhousie University scientists access the CNBC to identify materials with the magnetic properties required for a major breakthrough in computer memory.

Superconductors aren’t just for cool levitation demonstrations; a key discovery in this field could disrupt technologies for computing, medical imaging and power transmission lines as we know them today. The CNBC’s unique expertise and scientific tools are enabling Canadian and international researchers to make cutting edge discoveries in this field.

Australian scientists accessed the CNBC in search of the right materials for the next generation of computer processors.