Neutron Guides Research Articles

"m=1" coatings for neutron guides

A substantial fraction of the price for a supermirror neutron guide system is the shielding, which is needed because of the gamma radiation produced as a result of neutron absorption in the supermirror layers. Traditional coatings have been made of nickel-titanium heterostructures, but Ni and Ti also have a fairly high absorption cross section for cold and thermal neutrons. We examine a number of alternatives to Ni as part of a study to reduce the gamma radiation from neutron guides. Materials such as diamond and Be have higher neutron scattering density than Ni, smaller absorption cross section, and when a neutron is absorbed they emit gamma photons with lower energies. We present reflectivity data comparing Ni with Be and preliminary results from diamond coatings showing there use as neutron guide coatings. Calculations show that Be and diamond coatings emit two orders of magnitude fewer gamma photons compared to Ni, mainly because of the lower absorption cross section.

The Neutron Beam Expansion Program at the Bragg Institute

The Bragg Institute is operating the neutron scattering science facilities at the Australian research reactor OPAL. The first set of seven neutron scattering instruments was provided as part of the OPAL construction project which was completed in 2007. During the period 2008 – 2013, the instrument suite was significantly expanded by a further seven instruments. In addition to this, major investments were made to establish a world-class infrastructure for supporting these instruments, including new sample environments, 3He polarisers/analysers, additional neutron guides and a Be filter option for chemical spectroscopy.

The dependence of the gravity effect in elliptic neutron guides on the source size

Elliptic neutron guides are expected to be widely used for construction of long neutron beamlines at the future European Spallation Source and other facilities due to their superiour transmission properties compared to conventional straight guides. At the same time, neutrons traveling long distances are subject to the action of gravity that can significantly modify their flight paths. In this work, the influence of gravity on a neutron beam propagating through elliptic guides is studied for the first time in a systematic way with Monte-Carlo simulations. It is shown that gravity leads to significant distortions of the phase space during propagation through long elliptic guides, but this effect can be recovered by a sufficiently large source size. The results of this analysis should be taken into account during design of long neutron instruments at the ESS and other facilities.

Enhancing neutron beam production with a convoluted moderator

We describe a new concept for a neutron moderating assembly resulting in the more efficient production of slow neutron beams. The Convoluted Moderator, a heterogeneous stack of interleaved moderating material and nearly transparent single-crystal spacers, is a directionally enhanced neutron beam source, improving beam emission over an angular range comparable to the range accepted by neutron beam lines and guides. We have demonstrated gains of 50% in slow neutron intensity for a given fast neutron production rate while simultaneously reducing the wavelength-dependent emission time dispersion by 25%, both coming from a geometric effect in which the neutron beam lines view a large surface area of moderating material in a relatively small volume. Additionally, we have confirmed a Bragg-enhancement effect arising from coherent scattering within the single-crystal spacers. We have not observed hypothesized refractive effects leading to additional gains at long wavelength. In addition to confirmation of the validity of the Convoluted Moderator concept, our measurements provide a series of benchmark experiments suitable for developing simulation and analysis techniques for practical optimization and eventual implementation at slow neutron source facilities.

An improved elliptic guide concept for a homogeneous neutron beam without direct line of sight

Ballistic neutron guides are efficient for neutron transport over long distances, and in particular elliptically shaped guides have received much attention lately. However, elliptic neutron guides generally deliver an inhomogeneous divergence distribution when used with a small source, and do not allow kinks or curvature to avoid a direct view from source to sample. In this paper, a kinked double-elliptic solution is found for neutron transport to a small sample from a small (virtual) source, as given e.g. for instruments using a pinhole beam extraction with a focusing feeder. A guide consisting of two elliptical parts connected by a linear kinked section is shown by VITESS simulations to deliver a high brilliance transfer as well as a homogeneous divergence distribution while avoiding direct line of sight to the source. It performs better than a recently proposed ellipse–parabola hybrid when used in a ballistic context with a kinked or curved central part. Another recently proposed solution, an analytically determined non-linear focusing guide shape, is applied here for the first time in a kinked and curved ballistic context. The latter is shown to yield comparable results for long wavelength neutrons as the guide design found here, with a larger inhomogeneity in the divergence but higher transmission of thermal neutrons. It needs however a larger (virtual) source and might be more difficult to build in a real instrument.

McStas event logger: Definition and applications

Functionality is added to the McStas neutron ray-tracing code, which allows individual neutron states before and after a scattering to be temporarily stored, and analysed. This logging mechanism has multiple uses, including studies of longitudinal intensity loss in neutron guides and guide coating design optimisations. Furthermore, the logging method enables the cold/thermal neutron induced gamma background along the guide to be calculated from the un-reflected neutron, using a recently developed MCNPX–McStas interface.

Bi-spectral moderator for spallation sources optimized for instrument requirements

At a spallation neutron source, significant increase in the performance of neutron scattering instruments can be achieved if the target-moderator-reflector (TMR) and the following neutron guides are specifically tailored to the needs of different instrument classes. In order to define optimal quantities (e.g. positions of peak neutron flux, used wavelength band) for the Figure of Merit (FoM), a survey has been conducted at PSI covering the experience of the local instrument scientists. Based on this survey we introduce several FoMs which show the potential of tailoring the neutron spectrum to specific instrument needs. The developed methodology is adopted to optimize the top moderator in the conceptual design of the TMR of the European Spallation Source (ESS) Project. A parametrized geometry model of the ESS TMR is built in MCNPX and used within an optimization framework to study and optimize the moderator performance in the thermal and cold regions of the neutron spectrum. The results obtained with the optimized setup are compared to the ESS 2003 Project. Furthermore, experience is gathered while performing these simulations, e.g. the examination of the pulse shapes obtained with time-dependent calculations shows that for long-pulse target stations the peak brightness can with sufficient precision be obtained from time-independent calculations by scaling with the proton pulse duty factor.

On the form invariant volume transformation in phase space by focusing neutron guides: An analytic treatment

Tapered guides with supermirror coating are frequently used to focus neutron beams on specimens. The divergence distribution in the focused beam is of a great importance for the quality of neutron instrumentation. Using an analytic approach we derive the tapering which is needed to achieve a form invariant phase space transformation of a rectangular phase volume. In addition we consider the effect of beam attenuation by the finite reflectivity of supermirrors.

Bi-spectral extraction through elliptic neutron guides

In this paper we present the results of investigating a suggested guide extraction system utilizing both a thermal and a cold moderator at the same time, the so-called bi-spectral extraction. Here, the thermal moderator has line of sight to the sample position, and the neutrons from the cold source are reflected by a supermirror towards the sample.The work is motivated by the construction of the European Spallation Source (ESS) but the results are general and can be used at any neutron source. Due to the long pulse structure, most instruments at ESS will be long, often exceeding 50m from moderator to detector. We therefore investigate the performance of bi-spectral extraction for instrument lengths of 30m, 56m, 81m and 156m. In all these cases, our results show that we can utilize both moderators (and thus high intensity in a wide wavelength band) in the same instrument at a cost of flux of 5–30% for neutrons with wavelength larger than 1Å. In general, the divergence distribution is smooth at the sample position for all wavelengths.

Development of a NRSE Spectrometer with the Help of McStas – Application to the Design of Present and Future Instruments

The flux is still a major limiting factor in neutron research. For instruments being supplied by cold neutrons using neutron guides, both at present steady-state and at new spallation neutron sources, it is therefore important to optimize the instrumental setup and the neutron guidance. Optimization of neutron guide geometry and of the instrument itself can be performed by numerical ray-tracing simulations using existing open-access codes. In this paper, we discuss how such Monte Carlo simulations have been employed in order to plan improvements of the Neutron Resonant Spin Echo spectrometer RESEDA (FRM II, Germany) as well as the neutron guides before and within the instrument. The essential components have been represented with the help of the McStas ray-tracing package. The expected intensity has been tested by means of several virtual detectors, implemented in the simulation code. Comparison between simulations and preliminary measurements results shows good agreement and demonstrates the reliability of the numerical approach. These results will be taken into account in the planning of new components installed in the guide system.

Multiple reflections in elliptic neutron guide tubes

Neutron guide tubes are widely used to transport neutron beams over long distances. The neutron mirrors used to line the guide tubes have imperfect reflectivity and, in long conventional guides, the average number of reflections for neutron rays becomes large thus reducing the transmission. This issue is extremely important for modern spallation sources, especially for the proposed long pulse European Spallation Source to be constructed in Lund, Sweden, where technical constraints require many instruments to be far from the source. Several solutions to the problem of transporting neutrons over long distances have been proposed and currently the most favored model is that of guides with elliptic shapes. It is widely believed that elliptic guides transport neutron rays from source to sample with a single bounce, a near perfect solution for long neutron guides, and a view which is true in ideal circumstances. This article uses computed Monte Carlo ray tracing simulations (VITESS) and other techniques to demonstrate that transport of neutrons by realistic elliptic guides usually involves many reflections, contrary to the usual expectations. These multiple reflections explain the irregular divergence distributions observed in computer simulations of transmission by some elliptic guides.

Interfacing MCNPX and McStas for simulation of neutron transport

Simulations of target-moderator-reflector system at spallation sources are conventionally carried out using Monte Carlo codes such as MCNPX (Waters et al., 2007 [1]) or FLUKA (Battistoni et al., 2007; Ferrari et al., 2005 [2,3]) whereas simulations of neutron transport from the moderator and the instrument response are performed by neutron ray tracing codes such as McStas (Lefmann and Nielsen, 1999; Willendrup et al., 2004, 2011a,b [4–7]). The coupling between the two simulation suites typically consists of providing analytical fits of MCNPX neutron spectra to McStas. This method is generally successful but has limitations, as it e.g. does not allow for re-entry of neutrons into the MCNPX regime. Previous work to resolve such shortcomings includes the introduction of McStas inspired supermirrors in MCNPX. In the present paper different approaches to interface MCNPX and McStas are presented and applied to a simple test case. The direct coupling between MCNPX and McStas allows for more accurate simulations of e.g. complex moderator geometries, backgrounds, interference between beam-lines as well as shielding requirements along the neutron guides.

Investigation into the Mechanical Cause of Failure of Neutron Guide NG-2 at the NIST Research Reactor

This study investigates the fractures that occurred in a glass structure used to carry neutrons from a cold source in the NIST reactor into an experimental hall that contains neutron-scattering instrumentation used to perform experiments in chemistry, materials science, physics, and biology. These guides are typically made of rectangular borosilicate glass tubes, coated on the inside with a neutron-reflecting coating. The guide tubes used at the NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) have internal cross sections of dimensions 150 × 60 mm, with lengths extending over as great as 60 m, with gaps for insertion of the instruments used to evaluate materials. On August 23, 2011, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake occurred in Mineral, Virginia, which resulted in significant ground motion over 150 km away at the NCNR. An initial inspection and vacuum test revealed no significant damage to the seven neutron beam lines. After a few weeks, neutron guide 2 (NG-2) that was located in the Guide Hall near the reactor building wall cracked and broke while being evacuated. The cause of fracture was identified by observation of the glass fragments and analysis of the stress distributions in the guide. The delayed fracture was caused by damage introduced during the earthquake.

Correction of optical aberrations in elliptic neutron guides

Modern, nonlinear ballistic neutron guides are an attractive concept in neutron beam delivery and instrumentation because they offer increased performance over straight or linearly tapered guides. However, like other ballistic geometries they have the potential to create significantly non-trivial instrumental resolution functions. We address the source of the most prominent optical aberration, namely coma, and we show that for extended sources the off-axis rays have a different focal length from on-axis rays, leading to multiple reflections in the guide system. We illustrate how the interplay between coma, sources of finite size, and mirrors with non-perfect reflectivity can therefore conspire to produce uneven distributions in the neutron beam divergence, a source of complicated resolution functions. To solve these problems, we propose a hybrid elliptic–parabolic guide geometry. Using this new kind of neutron guide shape, it is possible to condition the neutron beam and remove almost all of the aberrations, whilst providing the same performance in beam current as a standard elliptic neutron guide. We highlight the positive implications for neutron scattering instruments that this new shape can bring.

Quality assessment of neutron delivery system for small-angle neutron scattering diffractometers of the Jülich Centre for Neutron Science at the FRM II

Following the shutdown of FRJ-2 research reactor in Jülich, the pinhole small-angle neutron diffractometers KWS-1 and KWS-2 have been moved to the research reactor FRM II in Garching. The installation of these 40m long instruments required the design and setup of new neutron guides with geometrical and optical features imposed by the instruments' positioning in the neutron guide hall, such as, the predetermined length and beam height as well as the foreseen improvement of the instrument performance. We report here about the quality assessment of the newly constructed neutron guides with respect to the optical, geometrical and alignment characteristics and the positioning of the velocity selector integrated in the neutron guide system by comparing the features of the measured neutron beams (in terms of neutron flux, intensity distribution and beam profile) with the results of the simulations of optimal neutron guide systems.

Neutron-Use Optimization with Virtual Experiments to Facilitate Research-Reactor Conversion to Low-Enriched Fuel

Converting research reactors from highly enriched uranium (HEU) fuel to more proliferation-resistant low-enriched fuel is critical for achieving the objective of ending the use of directly weapon-usable materials in the civilian nuclear fuel cycle. The most challenging type of reactors to convert are high-flux research reactors, which, along with upcoming strong spallation sources, are the most important neutron sources for sophisticated neutron scattering experiments. Advanced Monte-Carlo computer codes are now available that make it possible to track neutrons from the neutron source, through neutron guides, to the detector of a neutronic experimental setup, including realistic samples. These “virtual experiments” allow optimizing the performance of complete beamlines, where in many cases a large unused potential exists for increasing the neutron flux at the sample or detector position. The Monte-Carlo codes VITESS and McStas are used to compare results for typical neutron scattering setups using typical versus state-of-the-art technologies. The analysis shows that performance gains due to instrument upgrades or neutron guide renewals can dwarf potential neutron flux losses due to conversion to low-enriched fuel. Combined convert-and-upgrade strategies therefore offer unique opportunities for reactor operators and neutron scientists to significantly improve the overall performance of research facilities, and turn them into centers of excellence, while supporting the objective of phasing out the use of highly enriched uranium in the civilian nuclear fuel cycle as soon as possible.

New neutron-guide concepts and simulation results for the POWTEX instrument

The POWTEX instrument will be a high-intensity time-of-flight diffractometer at a continuous reactor source. Its design utilizes several new concepts and is suited for small samples. Herein, the optimization of the guide system is presented. It is based on two coupled elliptic neutron guides intersected by the pulse-chopper as an eye of a needle to increase the time resolution and to reduce the background transported from the source. The optical properties of two coupled ellipses are investigated with respect to their design constraints in terms of geometry and regarding the choice of the super-mirror coating. It is shown that low-divergent neutrons are preferentially transported near the pulse-chopper. Accordingly, a numerical optimization is utilized to tailor the coating to the instrument requirements using the back-tracing method that has been developed for the VITESS Monte-Carlo simulation package for virtual instrumentation. The procedure allows for a cost and background optimization because the mc-value can be kept as low as needed. For a diffractometer, the homogeneity of the divergence profile is crucial. Herein, the new development of neutron guides with octagonal cross sections is investigated. Appendix A shows a step-by-step description of the newly developed optimization features within VITESS as it was used for POWTEX.

A low-pass velocity filter for ultracold neutrons

We have built a device to filter ultracold neutrons with axial velocities vn≤8.0m/s from faster neutrons. The apparatus has been successfully tested at the Institut Laue-Langevin in Grenoble and is used in specific experiments, e.g., the measurement of ultracold neutron transmission through various types of neutron guides.

Use of parabolic mirrors as guide splitters

The use of non-linear tapered neutron guides has been extended over the last years and there are many examples of their performance and potential in several neutron scattering facilities around the world. However, the potential of these geometries is not fully explored. On the other hand, the increasing demand of neutron scattering instruments creates the need of more space for more instruments. One way to obtain it is by guide splitting. In this report we propose a guide splitter using a parabolic mirror. We make an analytical study and Monte Carlo simulations in order to observe its properties, performance and potential. The advantages of this configuration are clear: the filtering of unwanted neutrons in a shorter space than the traditional curved guide sections, the low divergence of the obtained beam and the lack of making larger moderators. However, the main disadvantage is the non-uniform divergence distribution of the beam.

Damage and Recovery of JAEA Instruments and Neutron Guides at JRR-3

Damage and Recovery of JAEA Instruments and Neutron Guides at JRR-3