The statutes of the Swiss Society for Neutron Scattering (seeNeutron NewsVol. 3, No. 4, 1992) include several long-term objectives; in particular, to stimulate the application of the neutron scattering technique, as well as to enhance the exchange of scientific ideas in neutron scattering. The organization of symposia is an excellent means towards realizing this particular aim. The managing committee of the society therefore decided to hold a symposium on a topic:•which is of current scientific interest;•which isextensively studiedin many Swiss research laboratories;•which largely benefits from results obtained by neutron scattering.