Basic chemistry and physics research encompasses fundamental studies of how atomic arrangement, symmetry, and interactions give rise to the collective behaviour of matter. In this Theme, the research focuses on magnetic frustration, low-dimensional and quantum materials, amorphous and disordered systems, and pressure- or geometry-driven phase transitions. The common aim is to uncover the physical principles that govern emergent phenomena—such as non-collinear magnetism, superconductivity, charge order, and amorphization—without immediate application constraints. By establishing how structure, dimensionality, and competing interactions define ground states and excitations, these studies form the foundation on which future functional and technological materials can be built.
Neutron techniques play a central role in basic chemistry and physics because they provide direct, element-specific, and often unique access to both atomic and magnetic structure as well as low-energy dynamics. Neutrons are exceptionally sensitive to magnetic moments and to light elements such as hydrogen, making them indispensable for resolving complex spin arrangements, magnetic phase transitions, and hydrogen-bonded frameworks. Techniques including neutron diffraction, inelastic and quasielastic neutron scattering, and total scattering enable the investigation of ordered, frustrated, and disordered states across wide ranges of temperature, pressure, and dimensionality, often under extreme conditions where new physics emerges.
A key strength of neutron scattering in this Theme is its ability to reveal emergent order and excitations in correlated systems, and to link microscopic interactions to macroscopic phases. Neutron methods make it possible to distinguish subtle magnetic structures, follow pressure- or field-induced transformations, and characterise amorphous states and quantum phase transitions with high precision. When combined with complementary probes such as X-rays, muon spin rotation, and theoretical modelling, neutron scattering provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the fundamental behaviour of matter. Together, these capabilities advance core knowledge in condensed matter physics and chemistry and define the conceptual basis for future discoveries in quantum and correlated materials.