Neutrons, deuteration and synchrotron X-rays for the study of biology and advanced materials: A match made in atoms..

Together, the Australian Synchrotron in Melbourne and the OPAL research reactor, at the Bragg Institute in Sydney represent Australia's largest ever investment in scientific infrastructure. Both facilities commenced operation in 2007, have passed through their infancy and adolescence to take their place amongst the rank of top-flight international user facilities. Far from middle-aged, these two vibrant landmark facilities (each with 10 operational beamlines) and along with the National Deuteration Facility at ANSTO have provided transformational research capabilities for the Australian scientific community. Although modest in size compared to the well-established international competition, both institutions are producing excellent amounts of high-quality research with the Bragg Institute and the Australian Synchrotron generating more than 200 and 450 peer-reviewed publications per annum respectively. At first glance both synchrotron and neutron sources show similar scientific profiles, encompassing an extremely wide range of disciplines: materials, chemistry, biology, condensed matter physics, nanotechnology, engineering, geosciences, archaeology and studies relating to cultural heritage. Common to both are advanced capabilities for the study of atomic and molecular structure, as well as operational studies of functional materials under a diverse range of extreme environments. A more forensic examination however reveals fundamental differences in their DNA. While the biological, pharmaceutical and medical research communities drive substantial capability development and research outcomes at the Australian Synchrotron, neutron scattering and molecular deuteration at the Bragg Institute provides a focus for studies in soft condensed matter, physical and inorganic chemistry, solid state physics and crystallography. Although their respective probes are generated from different parts of the atom and interact with matter in fundamentally different ways, my presentation will highlight several case-studies where the distinct properties of neutrons, selected deuteration, and synchrotron light come together to help solve complex problems associated with cellular biology and the development of a range of advanced materials.