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Neutron Applied Optics Lab
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The lab manipulates neutrons like light to explore the mysteries of matter and the universe.
AboutAbout the lab
Controlling neutrons as waves.
The Neutron Applied Optics Lab studies techniques for precisely controlling slow neutrons from nuclear reactors and accelerators.
Neutrons carry no electric charge, and the slower they are, the more strongly their wave nature appears.
Using this property, the lab builds mirrors that reflect neutrons and spectrometers that observe motion inside materials, which are used at facilities in Japan and abroad.
Applications range widely, from fundamental particle physics experiments to inspection technology in manufacturing.
Key terms
- Neutron
- A particle that makes up atomic nuclei and carries no electric charge. It passes easily through matter and is used to study magnetic properties and the positions of hydrogen atoms
- Neutron spin echo
- A spectroscopy method that reads very small differences in speed during scattering from changes in the direction of the neutron's spin
- Ultracold neutrons
- Very slow neutrons. They are totally reflected at material surfaces, so they can be stored in a container
NewsLab news
A doctoral student received the Student Poster Award (Excellence Award) at the Atomic Energy Society of Japan 2026 Spring Annual Meeting
Assistant Professor Hidehito Nakamura received the Best Poster Award at the Annual Meeting of the Radiation Safety Handling Division of the Japan Radioisotope Association
Assistant Professor Hidehito Nakamura received the Distinguished Service Award from the Kansai Branch of the Atomic Energy Society of Japan
Assistant Professor Hidehito Nakamura received the Osaka Nuclear Science Association Award
Assistant Professor Hidehito Nakamura received the Kyoto University Academic Day Award
ResearchResearch themes
The lab precisely controls intense beams of slow neutrons from research reactors and accelerator-based neutron sources. Its work covers fundamental physics research that only neutrons make possible, the development of new neutron scattering instruments for materials science, and industrial applications through neutron phase imaging. It is one of the world's leading development centers for reflective optical elements, which are essential for using neutron beams.
*Illustrative imageManipulating Neutrons Like Light
Because neutrons are electrically neutral, they are very difficult to bend as a beam. Using the wave nature that grows stronger as neutrons slow down, the lab makes optical elements such as multilayer neutron reflecting mirrors of world-leading performance.
*Illustrative imageNeutron Spin Echo Spectrometers
In collaboration with the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK), the lab built two types of resonance spin echo spectrometers on beamlines at J-PARC.
*Illustrative imageMeasuring Radiation with Scintillating Plastic
The lab develops plastic scintillators that glow when hit by ultraviolet light or radiation. It aims to use them to build inexpensive, highly sensitive radiation detectors.
*Illustrative imageProbing Particle Physics with Ultracold Neutrons
Ultracold neutrons, which have extremely small kinetic energy, are totally reflected at material surfaces and can therefore be stored in a container. As part of a Japan–Canada–U.S. international collaboration, the lab develops an ultracold neutron source and will measure the neutron electric dipole moment.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Neutron Applied Optics Lab are faculty, doctoral students, and master's students.As of 2024
- ProfessorMasahiro Hino
- Assistant ProfessorHidehito Nakamura
- Assistant ProfessorTakashi Higuchi
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Advanced Test Reactor” Argonne National Laboratory / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
- Manipulating Neutrons Like Light: “Morpho helena wing detail” OKJaguar / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Neutron Spin Echo Spectrometers: “Spinning top shadow” Armenak Margarian / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Measuring Radiation with Scintillating Plastic: “FZU scintillators 1” René Volfík / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Probing Particle Physics with Ultracold Neutrons: “Jeremy the left-coiling snail on top of a right-coiling snail, Theresa” Angus Davison / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (中性子源工学): “Núcleo del reactor nuclear RA-3, «Ciencia ficción», by Luis Gauna Pereira” Gaunper / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (中性子工学): “Fields and neutron source - geograph.org.uk - 5301501” Rudi Winter / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (マイクロ加工システム): “Danos Cristalográficos 5” Hebert Folli / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (制御工学): “Quadcopter Drone in flight” Project Kei / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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