LINXS recently announced that, subject to formal acceptance by the applicants, four new Themes will start at LINXS as of 1st January 2026. These offers are being made in response to last year’s National and International Theme Call. The themes will significantly extend LINXS’ mission as an advanced studies institute and deepen the exploitation of neutron and X-ray science at MAX IV, ESS, and related facilities worldwide.
“These new Themes are a great addition to LINXS’ portfolio. This is a substantial expansion of LINXS operations and represents an increased commitment to LINXS following the external evaluation in 2024. The new Themes will be able to drive unique research in areas in soft matter, semiconductors, virology, and applied life sciences”, says LINXS Director, Professor Trevor Forsyth.
The Theme “X-ray and neutron-based characterization of advanced semiconductors (Semiconductors)” is to be led by Rainer Timm, Professor, Department of Physics, Lund University, and is described as follows:
Advanced semiconductor technology is crucial to our most urgent environmental and societal challenges. Major efforts are ongoing for the development of improved materials and novel semiconductor device concepts. X-ray- and neutron-based characterisation methods offer key possibilities for the characterisation of semiconductor materials and an in-depth understanding of the physical and chemical effects involved in semiconductor technology.
Contributing to novel semiconductor functionality by exploring fundamental material aspects
This Theme aims to strengthen interaction and collaboration between experts in synchrotron-based material characterisation and semiconductor device development, both from academia and industry, in Sweden and Europe. The aim is to contribute to novel semiconductor functionality by exploring fundamental material aspects, to initialise novel synchrotron-based research on semiconductors, and to educate next-generation researchers from academia and industry in combining semiconductor device development and advanced characterisation, including X-rays and neutrons.
The Theme will have four working groups connected to it: WG 1: Advanced Transistor Technology; WG 2: Power Electronics; WG 3: Neuromorphic Materials for Deep Learning and AI; and WG 4: Optoelectronics and Photovoltaics.
How the Themes work
LINXS’ work is based mostly around Themes, governed by a core group, with multiple working groups connected to it. The Themes develop networks, research, and activities in different fields of science relevant to one or more of the LINXS focus areas. A Theme is a time-limited collaborative effort over about 3 years to enable a network of researchers to push the frontiers of research in a specific topic.
A Theme has some funding to boost the formation and activities of the network, to ultimately make the network more than the sum of its parts. Themes are suggested by the scientific community through regular calls for Themes. Any group of researchers from any organisation can propose a Theme. To lead activities requires a contribution from the host organisation or organisations of the Principal Investigators. Suggestions for themes are solicited via a call procedure, and the proposals are evaluated by independent experts.
Four new Themes to start at LINXS in January 2026 (LINXS’ website)