Scattering & Microscopy

Prof Ian Robinson

Ian Robinson is a professor at the London Centre for Nanotechnology. He uses X-ray diffraction to study the structure of materials.  His research is currently focussed on the development of coherent X-ray diffraction methods for imaging the structure of nanoparticles and domain structures in larger crystals. The X-ray coherence leads to interference effects in the diffraction patterns which can be inverted, using phase retrieval methods, to 3D images.  His research makes extensive use of synchrotron radiation facilities and Free-Electron Lasers with a big activity at the Diamond Light Source. Historically, the earliest beamlines were used to discover Crystal Truncation Rods, opening the field of surface structure determination, for which Robinson was awarded the Surface Structure Prize in 2011 and the Gregori Aminoff Prize in 2015.

Dr Roger Johnson

We work on the experimental determination of structure-property relationships in quantum materials, and develop phenomenological models of the underlying physical mechanisms via group-theoretical approaches and Landau theory. At present we are focused on magneto-orbital physics of novel quadruple perovskite manganites, and unusual effects of quantum magnetism found in hybrid organic/inorganic compounds and fully inorganic oxides. We perform in-house experiments to characterise the crystal structure and physical properties of new materials using, for example, single crystal and powder x-ray diffractometers, squid magnetometers, and bespoke dielectric and ferroelectric instrumentation. Our core research involves analysis of data collected during experiments at large-scale central facilities, mostly the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source and Diamond Light Source, both based in Oxfordshire, UK.