Neutron Decoherence Imaging for Visualizing Bulk Magnetic Domain Structures

Grünzweig, C.; Dávid, Christian; Bunk, Oliver; Dierolf, Martin; Frei, G.; Kühne, G.; Kohlbrecher, J.; Schäfer, Rudolf; Lejček, Pavel; Rønnow, Henrik M.; Pfeiffer, Franz

doi:10.1103/physrevlett.101.025504

Cited by 97 publications

(86 citation statements)

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“…On the other hand, the DFI signal, given by the amplitude, reveals a strong contrast degradation for steel and brass, which is attributed to scattering at magnetic domain walls (Grünzweig et al, 2008a) and at small precipitations within the material (Grünzweig et al, 2013), respectively. In contrast, the DFI signal in the copper rod and its bronze alloy is less influenced.…”

Section: The Potential Of Quantitative Dfimentioning

confidence: 99%

The new neutron grating interferometer at the ANTARES beamline: design, principles and applications

et al. 2016

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neutron radiography; neutron imaging; neutron grating interferometry; neutron dark-field imaging; small-angle neutron scattering; ultra-small-angle neutron scattering AbstractNeutron grating interferometry is an advanced method in neutron imaging that allows the simultaneous recording of the transmission, the differential phase and the darkfield image. Especially the latter has recently received high interest because of its unique contrast mechanism which marks ultra-small-angle neutron scattering within the sample. Hence, in neutron grating interferometry, an imaging contrast is generated by scattering of neutrons off micrometer-sized inhomogeneities. Although the scatterer cannot be resolved it leads to a measurable local decoherence of the beam. Here, a arXiv:1602.08846v1 [cond-mat.mtrl-sci] 29 Feb 2016 2 report is given on the design considerations, principles and applications of a new neutron grating interferometer which has recently been implemented at the ANTARES beamline at the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum. Its highly flexible design allows to perform experiments such as directional and quantitative dark-field imaging which provide spatially resolved information on the anisotropy and shape of the microstructure of the sample. A comprehensive overview of the nGI principle is given, followed by theoretical considerations to optimize the setup performance for different applications.Furthermore, an extensive characterization of the setup is presented and its abilities are demonstrated on selected case studies: (i) dark-field imaging for material differentiation, (ii) directional dark-field imaging to mark and quantify micrometer anisotropies within the sample and (iii) quantitative dark-field imaging, providing additional size information on the sample's microstructure by probing its autocorrelation function.

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Section: The Potential Of Quantitative Dfimentioning

confidence: 99%

The new neutron grating interferometer at the ANTARES beamline: design, principles and applications

et al. 2016

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“…In contrast to recently introduced imaging methods based on the Talbot-Lau technique 10,11 , significant modifications were necessary to enable imaging of magnetic domains in the bulk and in three dimensions. In particular, the extinction of the analysed interference pattern caused by the signal accumulation because of a great number of domain walls at the surface and in the bulk, as well as limitations in the spatial resolution and signal intensity had to be addressed ( Supplementary Fig.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The set-up used is shown schematically in Supplementary Figure S1a. It consists of three gratings 10,12 . (i) The source grating, G S , is an array of slits within an absorbing gadolinium mask with a period, p S , of 790 µm.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An exposure time of 100 s per radiographic image was chosen. The data set was corrected by additional background and flat field measurements, and the dark-field signal was evaluated by a sinusoidal fitting routine 13,10 .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Well-aligned domain walls in a thin ferromagnetic plate have also been investigated using the superior method of phase grating interferometry for (2D) neutron dark-field imaging [10][11][12][13] . In both cases, the image contrast is based on the refraction of neutrons at domain walls 14 .…”

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Three-dimensional imaging of magnetic domains

et al. 2010

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magnetic domains have been the subject of much scientific investigation since their theoretical existence was first postulated by P.-E. Weiss over a century ago. up to now, the threedimensional (3D) domain structure of bulk magnets has never been observed owing to the lack of appropriate experimental methods. Domain analysis in bulk matter thus remains one of the most challenging tasks in research on magnetic materials. All current domain observation methods are limited to studying surface domains or thin magnetic films. As the properties of magnetic materials are strongly affected by their domain structure, the development of a technique capable of investigating the shape, size and distribution of individual domains in three dimensions is of great importance. Here, we show that the novel technique of Talbot-Lau neutron tomography with inverted geometry enables direct imaging of the 3D network of magnetic domains within the bulk of Fesi crystals.

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Investigation of Energy‐Relevant Materials with Synchrotron X‐Rays and Neutrons

et al. 2011

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Many materials used for energy conversion have a complex structure and chemical composition, knowledge of which is important for both understanding the function of materials and energy conversion systems and for their further development. Synchrotron radiation and neutrons can make an important contribution to understanding the function of such systems. Taking examples from the fields of fuel cells, gas separation membranes, batteries, solar cells, and catalysts, the use of radiography, tomography, diffraction, scattering, and absorption edge spectroscopy is demonstrated. The strength of such methods is the in situ characterization of processes and compositions, and so the focus is on these aspects.

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Neutron Decoherence Imaging for Visualizing Bulk Magnetic Domain Structures

Cited by 97 publications

References 22 publications

The new neutron grating interferometer at the ANTARES beamline: design, principles and applications

The new neutron grating interferometer at the ANTARES beamline: design, principles and applications

Three-dimensional imaging of magnetic domains

Investigation of Energy‐Relevant Materials with Synchrotron X‐Rays and Neutrons

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