That would be some detective agency. The neutron is your guide. We can also alter material to make it more useful. Fast neutrons can be used to introduce defects into a material in a very controlled manner that actually improves its performance. Not surprisingly then, collaborative efforts at MURR involve a broad range of investigations in basic and applied materials science.
Magnets are an essential part of electric motors, sensors and many other high tech products.
High performance, permanent magnets characterized and improved at MURR in the 1980s and 1990s can replace electromagnets in many applications, reducing weight and cost and improving reliability. Ongoing studies seek to understand mechanisms behind changes in composition, structure and temperature to improve magnetic materials even further. High temperature superconductors have the potential to revolutionize the way we do many things. Superconductors are high-tech materials that conduct electricity without resistance, which means that no electricity is lost or wasted. Other less dramatic, but equally important applications are predicted for power transmission, medicine, and telecommunications.