The Irradiated Solids Laboratory conducts fundamental research in physics and physical chemistry of materials. Its mission is to study the fundamental properties of the solid state and its interactions with electronic, ionic, and photonic radiation. Radiation, regardless of its nature, is used as a means of analyzing fundamental processes but can also induce structural changes, for example. The primary goal is to understand the physical properties, functionalities, structure, and form of materials, to control changes in them, and to drive the emergence of innovative devices able to meet societal challenges in energy and the environment. To achieve this, the laboratory has developed multidisciplinary activities supported by numerous complementary analytical techniques as well as theoretical and numerical approaches.
The laboratory is a joint research unit (UMR 7642) of the CEA, CNRS, and École Polytechnique since 2000. At the CEA, it is attached to the Fundamental Research Directorate (DRF), through the Saclay Institute for Radiation and Matter (IRAMIS). At the CNRS, it reports primarily to the Institute of Physics (INP) and secondarily to the Institute of Chemistry (INC). Its main section is “Condensed Matter, Organization and Dynamics” (05). The sections of the national committee to which the LSI is also attached are sections 03 (Condensed Matter: Organization and Dynamics) and 11 (Supra- and Macromolecular Systems and Materials: Development, Properties, Functions).
The laboratory is located on the École Polytechnique campus and is one of 22 laboratories at the school’s research center.
