Zaragoza brings together the international scientific community specialising in polarised neutrons
This week, Zaragoza is becoming an international meeting point for polarised neutron research. From 31 August to 4 September, the city is hosting the 16th International Conference on Polarised Neutrons for Condensed Matter Investigations (PNCMI 2026), organised by our colleague Javier Campo.
The event brings together around one hundred researchers and specialists from countries including Germany, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan, Australia, Canada, Italy and South Korea. Widely regarded as the leading biennial forum for this scientific community, the conference focuses on the latest advances in areas such as quantum materials, altermagnetism, nanomagnetism, thin films and multilayers, as well as the development of new instrumental methodologies.
Polarised neutrons are an especially valuable tool for studying magnetic and structural phenomena in complex materials. Their spin can be aligned in a specific direction, enabling them to be used as extremely sensitive probes and providing highly valuable insights into the properties of materials.
“As it is a highly sophisticated discipline, it helps to solve equally complex problems, such as quantum magnetism, next-generation superconductors, the development of new soft materials and biomaterials, energy applications, and robotics,” explains Javier Campo.
The hosting of PNCMI 2026 reinforces Zaragoza’s position as an international centre of excellence in condensed matter physics research, magnetism, and neutron-based techniques.
INMA (CSIC-UNIZAR) has a long-standing track record in this field and plays a key role in establishing the city as a leading environment for scientific exchange and the development of new international collaborations. Eleven years ago, Zaragoza also hosted the European Conference on Neutron Scattering, which brought together more than 700 researchers.
Throughout the week, PNCMI 2026 features plenary lectures, invited talks, technical sessions and presentations that provide opportunities to share the latest advances and identify new challenges in advanced materials research.
Further information: https://pncmi2026.csic.es/
