A brief introduction to the Institute Laue-Langevin (ILL) in Grenoble, France, which is a world leader in academic research with neutrons will be given. The scope of fundamental physics studies with neutrons is outlined. The main instruments provided for such studies are described and some past and current flagship experiments with ultra-cold neutrons (UCN) in this field (lifetime, electric dipol moment, quantum states) are highlighted. The properties and the production of UCN are described in detail.

About the speaker

Peter W.H. Geltenbort received a Ph D from the University of Tuebingen, Germany, in 1983. He joined the Nuclear and Particle Physics (NPP) College at the ILL in 1983 responsible for a fission fragment spectrometer. From 1989 to 1993 he held the position of Head of the Detector Group. In 1993 he reintegrated into the NPP College responsible for the Ultra-Cold Neutron/Very CN facilities at the ILL. His current research interests are the fundamental properties of the neutron.