On May 5 and 6, 2016, SUSTech, along with HPSTAR and CSNS, organized the Forum on High Pressure Neutron Sciences, which aimed to facilitate the development of national research on high pressure neutron science, increase relevant academic exchange and communication, and discuss the subject’s future development and technical paths of neutron scattering spectrograph. Specialists and scholars from a host of domestic and foreign institutions of higher learning and research institutes, such as Peking University, Institute of Physics CAS, HPSTAR, Rice University, SUSTech, etc., attended the event. Director Ho-Kwang David Mao of HPCAT from APS US Department of Energy, Director Zou Guangtian of Committee on High Pressure Physics of Chinese Society of Physics, former Director Chen Hesheng of Institute of High Energy Physics CAS attended the conference as distinguished guests.
Academician Ho-Kwang David Mao made a brief introduction of the past, present and future of the international high pressure scientific development. He highly appreciated the vital progress regarding synchrotron radiation applications, introduced great achievements in high pressure neutron science, and offered relevant instructions for its further development.
Academician Chen Hesheng reported that, CSNS provided significant opportunities for national research and application of neutron scattering in various fields, and might offer advanced tools to solve problems that existed in national developmental strategic demands. Given the short distance between SUSTech and CSNS, both sides were expected to work closely to promote the application of neutron scattering, cultivate professionals, and invent neutron scattering spectrograph and experimental methods.
Academician Zou Guangtian, who specialized in research on new effects caused by phase transition under high pressure, high-temperature and high-pressure experimental techniques for materials from the earth and planets, as well as ultrahard materials and multi-functional high pressure phase materials, detailed the innovative achievements and the status quo of China’s high pressure scientific development.
On behalf of SUSTech, Professor Zhao Yusheng extended a warm welcome to all participants. Moreover, he elaborated on the building of the neutron science center, holding that SUSTech gathered a plenty of excellent talents in cutting-edge fundamental subjects and application technologies for new industries, and that the neutron scientific research built another brand new platform for the development of advanced inter-disciplines.
In addition, reports on specific topics including “Application of In-Situ Neutron Diffraction in Research of High-Pressure Chemistry”, “Neutron Scattering in Hong Kong–Present and Future”, “High-Pressure Single-Crystal Neutron Scattering as a Key Tool in Research on Correlated Electron Systems”, “The Effect of Uniaxial Pressure on Structural and Magnetic Phase Transitions in Iron Pnictide Superconductors”, to name only a few, were also made by other experts.
Besides, all specialists and scholars paid a visit to CSNS, Dalang town, Dongguan city, where Deputy Director Chen Yuanbo of Institute of High Energy Physics CAS cast light on the development of scientific research projects of CSNS and introduced the potential cooperation program between SUSTech and CSNS.
This forum provided a chance for specialists and scholars to exchange their ideas, which not only increased the influence of the neutron science center of SUSTech on high pressure neutron science, but also enabled the world to have a better understanding of SUSTech.