We welcome Henrik Moodysson Rønnow who will stay at LINXS in September as a visiting researcher with the Quantum Materials theme.

A man, Henrik Moodysson Rønnow. Photo. — Henrik Moodysson Rønnow invented the CAMEA (Continuous Angle Multiple Energy Analysis) class of instruments which will be in use for the new BIFROST instrument at ESS.

He is a professor at the Faculty of Basic Sciences at the EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, where he founded the Laboratory for Quantum Magnetism in 2007. He has chaired the Swiss and European Neutron Scattering Societies and is the incoming Dean of Basic Sciences at EPFL.

Why did you want to come to LINXS?

I am interested in contributing to the exciting scientific and strategic activities related to quantum materials taking place at ESS and MAX IV.

I invented the CAMEA (Continuous Angle Multiple Energy Analysis) class of instruments – and a modified version will be used at the ESS instrument BIFROST to form its back-end spectrometer. The CAMEA instrument belongs to a class of revolutionary multiplexing neutron spectrometers designed to maximise data collection efficiency.

BIFROST is of particular relevance to quantum materials as the instrument will be able to explore the physics of magnetism and superconductivity, with applications in many new energy materials and functional materials. It makes use of neutron spectroscopy, the main tool for investigating low-energy dispersive dynamics in single crystals.

Initially, the idea was that BIFROST would be up and running in time for my stay at LINXS, but since there are no neutrons yet, I will work with researchers to prepare for the commissioning and early science at BIFROST, as well as discuss how to optimise sample environments and scientific computing support.

Once there are neutrons, I will come back for another visit!

What else will you do during your visit?

My plan is to connect with the Swedish research community in my field of quantum materials – for example by visiting other Swedish universities – including Karlstad University, where my cousin is the vice-chancellor! I am half-Danish and half-Swedish, so the stay at LINXS has some sentimental value to me as well!

I know the Danish research community very well, but I am less connected in Sweden, and this will be a good chance to build my network and also work with researchers in the Quantum Materials theme.

What are your research interests?

My research focuses on quantum magnetism, strongly correlated electron phenomena, and materials with novel electronic properties, including high-temperature superconductors, CMR manganites and skyrmion-hosting materials.

Within the field of quantum materials, my specialty could perhaps be described as going for the experiments others thought were impossible!