Science Daily February 29, 2024
The state-of-the-art multilayer polarizing neutron optics has limitations, particularly low specular reflectivity and polarization at higher scattering vectors/angles, and the requirement of high external magnetic fields to saturate the polarizer magnetization. An international team of researchers (Sweden, Iceland, Switzerland, Germany) showed that, by incorporating 11B4C into Fe/Si multilayers, amorphization and smooth interfaces could be achieved, yielding higher neutron reflectivity, less diffuse scattering, and higher polarization. Magnetic coercivity was eliminated, and magnetic saturation could be reached at low external fields. According to the researchers this approach offered prospects for substantial improvement in polarizing neutron optics with nonintrusive positioning of the polarizer, enhanced flux, increased data accuracy, and further polarizing/analyzing methods at neutron scattering facilities… read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLEÂ
Concept of SLD tuning and implementation of improved polarizing neutron optics… Credit: SCIENCE ADVANCES, 14 Feb 2024, Vol 10, Issue 7