Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we had to postpone the neutron reflectivity experiment at J-PARC MLF BL16. Polymer Brush Project team unfortunately endured for over one year until the regulations arranged by Oita University for preventing infection is relaxed. We eventually conducted the long-awaited experiments on 28th June 2021. Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility (MLF) is a user facility in Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC) which provides world premier intense pulsed neutron and muon beams for scientific research and industrial development. BL16 SOFIA, SOFt Interface Analyzer, is a horizontal-type pulsed neutron reflectometer for investigating interfaces on the nanometer to sub-micron length scale in the depth direction. Since Riku-san carefully prepared the experiment, we got exciting data shedding light to the swollen structure of polymer brush/biomolecule conjugate films in buffer solutions. Well done!
I guess this is the first experiment conducted by a student belonging to Oita University at MLF. This is a giant step demonstrating a local university at east Kyushu could engage in frontier research exploiting quantum beams. It is exactly tough work to continue research activity for young faculty handling their own laboratory; however, I hope to keep running with the support of fresh energy and sincere cooperation of my dear students.
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