John White's work has shown how neutron scattering can provide precise details of molecular structure and dynamics on the picosecond time scale, for a wide range of molecular liquids in the bulk and at interfaces, as well as for molecular solids and polymers. By combining high resolution measurements and contrast variation methods for simplifying spectra, the work has allowed previously intractable systems to be studied and demonstrated the scope and appropriateness of allied computer simulation methods.
He has made the only studies of phonon dispersion in crystalline polymers, has shown how physiosorption and intercalation modify molecular dynamics, and first observed molecular quantum mechanical rotational tunnelling at interfaces. His work demonstrated early on, that at silicate-water interfaces water diffusion is but weakly affected and has generalised this understanding to lamellar liquid crystals and swollen model membranes.