Eligibility & Prerequisites
Courses are open to all, but selection may be limited if the number of applicants is high.
Our main target group is PhD students, but courses are also open to advanced MSc students, postdocs, and participants from industry.
Next course date
November 2026
Learning Objectives
- Introduce SANS theory and practice, including data analysis.
- Prepare students who have prior general neutron scattering or Small-Angle Scattering experience.
Course Main Content
The course covers the theory and practice of Small-Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS), including contrast matching and variation techniques in SANS, as well as the design and configuration of SANS instrumentation. It addresses the practical aspects of experiment planning and execution, the complementarity between SANS and other scattering methods, and approaches to data analysis and interpretation. The course also introduces advanced topics such as magnetic SANS, USANS, and VSANS for extending to micrometer length scales, and Grazing Incidence SANS (GISANS) for studying surface structures. Practical sessions include computer-based data analysis and student presentations on how SANS can be applied in their own research.
Literature
Hammouda: The SANS Toolbox — https://www.ncnr.nist.gov/staff/hammouda/the_SANS_toolbox.pdf
Lecturers
Prof. Elizabeth Blackburn (LU); Dr. Judith Houston (ESS); Dr. Andrew Jackson (LU/ESS); Dr. Wojciech Potrzebowski (LU/ESS).
Examination & Requirements for Final Grade
Two parts: (1) Report on data analysis exercises; (2) Presentation on applying SANS to own research project.
Contact
Assoc. Prof. Andrew Jackson (Division of Physical Chemistry, LU/ESS) – andrew.jackson@fkem1.lu.se