The NIST Gold Medal Award for 2020 was presented to a team of researchers led by John Barker for their development of the first U.S. instrument capable of very small angle neutron scattering (VSANS) measurements. This cutting-edge tool allows scientists to study materials at the nanoscale and mesoscale, providing new insights into a wide range of technologies.
The VSANS instrument has already proven valuable in research areas such as biopharmaceuticals, drug delivery systems, personal care products, advanced polymers, energy conversion and storage materials, chemical production and separation, advanced data storage systems, and materials for quantum information applications. The team’s work is expected to have a significant impact on these industries by enabling new research and development possibilities.
Keywords: Enabling Technologies and Quantum Devices, Quantum Sensing and Metrology
