The reason: The foundation of neutron scattering science in Asia
I would like to introduce one historical figure in Physics. As Europe and U.S.A., Japan has originated a number of brilliant physicists as well, such as, Shinichiro Tomonaga, Hideki Yukawa, Yoichiro Nanbu, including 9 of Novel prize winners in Physics. Among these physicists, I would like to bring up an experimental physicist who had contributed to neutron scattering experiment techniques for more than 50 years. He is special to me. He is the first generation of scientist in neutron scattering (nearly = diffraction, for the simplicity) in Japan.
His name is Dr. Gen Shirane. He was born in Kobe, Japan, graduated from the Univ. of Tokyo. After his graduation, he came to the U.S., and worked for Brookhaven national laboratory. Dr. Shirane has been recognized as one of the most energetic and keen experimental physicists in condensed matter physics. Throughout his career, he published more than 700 scientific papers, and the qualities of those papers are quite high. His works opened many new fields in condensed matter and neutron scattering experiments.
We physicists have three quantum beams to study materials, which are neutron, X-ray, and electron. Since those three are diffracted by crystal, the techniques are sometimes similar. Nevertheless, knowledge and techniques have been accumulating independently in those fields. I personally think, the technique in neutron diffraction is most mature, X-ray diffraction is now hottest and expanding, and Electron diffraction is expanding and most promising. Among them, I am a professional for this neutron scattering.
In addition to his scientific carrier, he was a good educator. He trained many physicists, especially Japanese physicist. My former boss who is professor at the University of Virginia described him as “Japanese Mafia.” Japanese young physicists often came to the U.S. and worked for him. They learned a lot of neutron experimental techniques from him. Once these physicists became good experimental physicists, went back to Japan, and started their own laboratories in major universities. I am a third generation of his follower of Dr. Shirane. I have never met him, because he died in 2005, the year I just graduated university. However, I always keep in my mind his enormous passion and enthusiasm for science.
I have read his selected publications which listed more than 30 papers with more than 100 cited. This is remarkable figures. I needed 1 month to finish this. He is a specialist for experimental techniques on so called triple axis spectrometer invented by Dr. Brockhouse. After almost 60 year after invention, this machine is everywhere in the world, and very productive. Shirane worked hard on this machine and produce a lot of paper and techniques.
He also teaches me good instrument scientist should also be good scientist. Since, it takes a lot of time to maintenance for this machine and its users, Instrumental scientists tend to be instrument manager. But I believe I have to be very the scientist who knows this machine best, produce papers, invent new techniques, and then give the users good idea to work on, as Shirane had done.
I am going to work for ANSTO OPAL research reactor which started 2008, so the snowball neutron scattering start packing just 6 years ago in Australia. I am in charge of one of these machines in Australia ANSTO. How much productive it would be depends on our contribution to Australian neutron scattering. And also Japan leaded to establish the AOCNA (Asis-Oceania neutron scattering association), whose first conference was held at Tsukuba Japan 2011. The community of neutron scattering in Asia is growing. I don’t have any intention to stop rolling down this hill with this community.
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