Focusing Optics for Neutrons

The challenging optics ofXtremeD– a neutron diffractometer for high pressures and magnetic fields at ILL developed by Spain

“…The monochromator will re-focus the beam on to a spot down to 1mm 3 at the sample position, obtaining gains of 10 to 50 in flux [2]. A vertically focusing trumpet or a Soller collimator combined with diaphragms depending on the experiment to be carried out will achieve the final conditioning of the beam in order to reduce the size of the spot to the desired value.…”

“…The design of a new instrument should comprise the whole setup between the source and the sample, not only the components downstream of the monochromator [2]. For the delivery guide, the interest of a focusing module is at the creation of a small virtual source for the focusing monochromator.…”

“…There are fundamental differences between synchrotron X-ray beams, which are intrinsically small and well collimated, and neutron sources, which are both large in size and have a large divergence [2]. The neutron phase space is approximately 1000 times less dense than X-ray phase space.…”

“…Neutron diffraction has unique capabilities for this kind of research and the interest for this technique, in particular in the Spanish scientific community, has led to the proposal for the construction at ILL of a new neutron diffractometer optimized for high pressure and high magnetic field studies for both single crystals and powders, which will be developed by Spain. At the present time we are finalizing the technical project, and the construction phase is expected to start in 2011.There are fundamental differences between synchrotron X-ray beams, which are intrinsically small and well collimated, and neutron sources, which are both large in size and have a large divergence [2]. The neutron phase space is approximately 1000 times less dense than X-ray phase space.…”

Neutron resonances in planar waveguides

“…For local investigation of samples the more narrow beams are required. The various focusing devices [1] are able to decrease the width of the neutron beam up to 50 µm. The smaller widths up to 0.1-10 µm can be achieved with the help of planar waveguides, which transform collimated neutron macrobeams into slightly divergent microbeams compressed in one dimension.…”