Recent backscattering instrument developments at the ILL and SNS

We present new developments in neutron backscattering spectroscopy from two major neutron scattering centers. The first example is the reactor backscattering project 1N16B, which is under construction at the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL), Grenoble, France, the second is the spallation source near-backscattering spectrometer BASIS at the spallation neutron source SNS, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA, in operation since 2007. After explaining the energy resolution contributions to neutron backscattering and presenting the current status, we describe the layout, performance and the complementarity of the two most advanced backscattering projects. A few examples should illustrate the status and new experimental possibilities.