HSC5: Synchrotron Radiation and Neutrons for Cultural Heritage Studies

Grenoble, 7 to 13 October 2007

Part of the Marie Curie Conferences and Training Courses

SCOPE

Synchrotron and neutron sources offer recent and additional insight into the records of our cultural past. Over the last years, there has been an increasing demand for access to SR- and neutron-based techniques, and their applications in the fields of archaeological science and cultural heritage. The purpose of this Hercules Specialized Course is to give the participants an introduction to the basic principles of SR and neutron techniques (imaging, microscopy, diffraction, absorption and fluorescence, IR spectroscopy). The school will also provide cross-disciplinary examples illustrating the abilities of these techniques in a representative range of scientific cases in relation with the European cultural heritage. The lectures will cover both theoretical and experimental aspects to the attention of a non-expert audience. They will be complemented by tutorials (diffraction and XAS data processing), and practicals on a selection of artefacts taking place at several ESRF and ILL beamlines. Young scientists and newcomers at the interfaces of the disciplines of archaeology, archaeological science, art conservation and materials science are welcome.

ORGANISERS

Loïc Bertrand, Eric Dooryhee, Jean-Louis Hodeau

Secretariat: N. Petricola (ESRF)

Contact the Organisers of HSC5: Jean-Louis Hodeau, Eric Dooryhee, Loïc Bertrand and N. Petricola

TOPICS

• Introductory lectures:
  

  Over the first 2 days, the HSC includes introductory talks on core SR and neutron methods (diffraction, XAS) and will also cover recent and dedicated developments in IR spectroscopy, full-field 2/3D imaging, micro-beams and microscopy, together with related tutorials.

• Complementarity lectures
  The last day covers a variety of archaeological and cultural heritage issues, e.g. studies of pigments, metal ware, manuscripts and parchments, tissues, ceramics and glasses.

• Practicals
  2 days of beamtime are planned for training and practising at the ESRF and ILL. The participants are encouraged to discuss with us the possibility to bring over their own samples as test cases and for preliminary measurements.

SPONSORS

INTERNATIONAL UNION OF CRYSTALLOGRAPHY
IUCr Scientific Freedom Policy Statement
The Organizing Committee of HSC5 shall observe the basic policy of non-discrimination and affirms the right and freedom of scientists to associate in international scientific activity without regard to such factors as citizenship, religion, creed, political stance, ethnic origin, race, colour, language, age or gender, in accordance with the Statutes of the International Council for Science.
At this course, no barriers will exist which would prevent the participation of bona fide scientists.