Sunday 7th July, the Musée des arts et métiers welcomed the great event CristalÔ, on the occasion of the International Year of Crystallography.
This day, coordinated by the CNRS, gathered numerous manifestations: conferences, workshops, competitions for young and old. SOLEIL hosted a stand and welcomed some of the 2200 visitors who came to admire crystal collections and to participate in some amazing experiments. With facilitators coming from different laboratories, visitors discovered the specific configurations of atoms in crystals, a myriad of shapes and colors.
Jean-Paul Itié, the PSICHÉ beamline officer and member of the national advisory committee of the International Year of Crystallography, is making ice crystals grow at room temperature!
Holding a molecular model in hand, Garance explains the difference between graphite, diamond and “footballene”. Kévin takes this opportunity to explain how a synchrotron works to the curious public, who gathered continuously throughout this crazy day!