Hosted by the CSNS, the Palace Museum and the Guangdong Provincial Museum, the first International Academic Symposium on Neutron Technology and Cultural Heritage Science Applications was held 26th-29th November in Dongguan. Over 100 experts and researchers from the fields of cultural heritage and neutron technology worldwide gathered to share the latest research results and practical experiences of neutron technology in areas such as cultural relic preservation, archaeological research, and cultural heritage protection and restoration.

According to Wang Sheng, Deputy Director of the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Director of CSNS, neutron technology is demonstrating high application value in cultural relic research. The construction and operation of CSNS, in particular, have provided unprecedented opportunities for using neutrons for artifact characterization. Instrument scientists from the large-scale scientific facilities and cultural relic researchers will engage in a collaboration to further the applications of neutron technology on cultural relic research. 

The speakers of 30 reports included facility users from institutions such as the Palace Museum, the National Museum, the Guangdong Provincial Museum, and the Museum of the First Emperor of Qin, as well as instrumentation scientists from CSNS, the Hefei Light Source, and the China Institute of Atomic Energy. 

Through using the energy-resolved imaging instrument at CSNS, the Guangdong Provincial Museum has conducted research on 5 artifacts, including a Han Dynasty iron sword, Qing Dynasty gilded copperware, and Qing Guangxu calibrated copper weights. Among these, the Qing Dynasty gilded copperware has posed challenges for X-ray technology because of its capability to penetrate through the metal copperware exterior. On the contrary, neutrons were able to easily penetrate the metal walls and observe the internal structure without damaging the bottom cover of the copperware, providing richer sample information.

The symposium also welcomed international researchers from Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Japan to share the applications and advantages of neutrons in archaeology and cultural heritage research, promoting international academic exchanges and cooperation in the fields of neutron technology and cultural heritage science.