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A new high efficiency two-dimensional neutron detector for the cold-neutron diffractometer DMC at SINQ

English title A new high efficiency two-dimensional neutron detector for the cold-neutron diffractometer DMC at SINQ
Applicant Keller Lukas
Number 170773
Funding scheme R'EQUIP
Research institution Paul Scherrer Institut
Institution of higher education Paul Scherrer Institute - PSI
Main discipline Condensed Matter Physics
Start/End 01.11.2017 - 30.04.2022
Approved amount 400'000.00
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Keywords (5)

neutron; magnetism; detector; diffraction; crystallography

Lay Summary (German)

Lead
Die Spallationsneutronenquelle SINQ am Paul Scherrer Institut ist ein führendes Zentrum für Forschung mit Neutronen. Jedes Jahr werden die Instrumente an der SINQ von hunderten von Forschern aus der ganzen Welt für aktuelle und spezialisierte Forschung verwendet. Instrumentenentwicklung ist unverzichtbar, um auch weiterhin Forschung auf höchstem Niveau zu ermöglichen. Dabei ist die Entwicklung von neuartigen Neutronendetektoren entscheidend für die Verbesserung von Auflösung, Empfindlichkeit und Leistung von modernen Neutronendiffraktometern.
Lay summary

Inhalt und Ziel des Forschungsprojektes

Wir konstruieren einen neuartigen hochempfindlichen zweidimensionalen Neutronendetektor für das Neutronendiffraktometer DMC an der SINQ. Die Entwicklung verwendet modernste Techniken aus dem Gebiet der Gasdetektoren und zeichnet sich durch hohe Zählraten mittels hohen Detektorgasdruck, grossen abgedeckten Raumwinkel sowohl inner- als auch ausserhalb der Streuebene und vor allem durch zweidimensionale Detektion der durch die Probe gestreuten Neutronen aus. Dies führt zu einem dramatischen Intensitätsgewinn, verglichen mit dem gegenwärtig verwendeten Detektor, von mehr als einer Grössenordnung bei vergleichbarer Auflösungsfunktion.

Wissenschaftlicher und gesellschaftlicher Kontext des Forschungsprojektes

Durch den neuen modernen Hochleistungsdetektor werden neuartige Experimente sowohl in der Grundlagenforschung als auch angewandter Forschung ermöglicht, die bisher nicht realisierbar waren. Dazu gehören in-situ Messungen von chemischen Prozessen, Messung von kleinsten Probenmengen von neuen Verbindungen, Detektion von magnetischen Ordnungsprozessen und Wechselwirkungen mit bisher nicht möglichen Empfindlichkeiten.

Direct link to Lay Summary Last update: 06.09.2017

Responsible applicant and co-applicants

Publications

Publication
SINQ—Performance of the New Neutron Delivery System
Geue Thomas, Juranyi Fanni, Niedermayer Christof, Kohlbrecher Joachim, Stahn Jochen, Gasser Urs, Yamada Masako, Klauser Christine, Kenzelmann Michel, Rüegg Christian, Filges Uwe (2021), SINQ—Performance of the New Neutron Delivery System, in Neutron News, 32(2), 37-43.
Compact neutron focusing with CORON
Klauser Christine, Bartkowiak Marek, Filges Uwe, Forster Matti, Keller Lukas, Rantsiou Emmanouela (2020), Compact neutron focusing with CORON, in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detector, 953, 163188-163188.

Collaboration

Group / person Country
Types of collaboration
Dr. K.W. Krämer, University Bern Switzerland (Europe)
- in-depth/constructive exchanges on approaches, methods or results
- Publication
- Research Infrastructure
- Exchange of personnel
Prof. Dr. M. Kenzelmann, LNS, PSI Switzerland (Europe)
- in-depth/constructive exchanges on approaches, methods or results
- Publication
- Research Infrastructure
- Exchange of personnel
Dr. K. Zeitelhack, FRM II, Technische Universität München Germany (Europe)
- in-depth/constructive exchanges on approaches, methods or results
- Publication
- Research Infrastructure
- Exchange of personnel
Prof. W. Paulus, University of Montpellier France (Europe)
- in-depth/constructive exchanges on approaches, methods or results
- Publication
- Research Infrastructure
- Exchange of personnel
Dr. U. Filges, LIN, PSI Switzerland (Europe)
- in-depth/constructive exchanges on approaches, methods or results
- Publication
- Research Infrastructure
- Exchange of personnel

Scientific events

Active participation

Title Type of contribution Title of article or contribution Date Place Persons involved
LNS Meeting Talk given at a conference High-efficiency detector for DMC: first results 11.01.2022 Pail Scherrer Institut, Switzerland Keller Lukas;
LNS Meeting Talk given at a conference Status of DMC detector upgrade 08.12.2020 Paul Scherrer Institut, Switzerland Keller Lukas;
Collaboration Meeting IFE and PSI Talk given at a conference State-of-the-art neutron diffraction at SINQ 21.08.2019 Paul Scherrer Institut, Switzerland Keller Lukas;
Seminar Individual talk DMC at SINQ: a next generation neutron diffractometer 29.11.2017 TU München, Germany Keller Lukas;


Associated projects

Number Title Start Funding scheme
147071 Superconductivity in Unconventional Metals and its Interplay with Magnetism 01.10.2013 Project funding
166298 Quantum Magnetism - Checkerboards, Skyrmions and Dipoles 01.06.2016 Project funding
152734 Spin-liquid and spin-ice states in frustrated rare-earth and transition metal spinels 01.04.2014 SCOPES
160765 Mott Physics Beyond the Heisenberg Model in Iridates and Related Materials 01.01.2016 Sinergia
162626 Frustration in Quantum and Classical Magnets 01.12.2015 Project funding
150257 Dimensional and Anisotropy Control of Model Quantum Magnets 01.01.2014 Project funding
157131 SECTOR - Structural-induced electronic complexity controlled by low temperature topotactic reactions 01.09.2015 Project funding

Abstract

Neutron diffraction is an unmatched microscopic tool to study the structure of condensed matter and is widely used in the fields of condensed matter physics, material science, chemistry and crystallography. It has unique advantages for allocating light elements, and it is essential for studying complex magnetic systems and short- and long-range magnetic correlations. Also, neutron diffraction is essential for investigating phase transitions driven by temperature, pressure or magnetic field as well as investigating novel ground-states at extreme conditions. Neutron detection technologies have been highly advanced in the last decades and modern neutron diffractometers address the only weakness - intensity.We propose a new high-performance detector for the cold neutron diffractometer DMC at the Swiss spallation neutron source SINQ of the Paul Scherrer Institut. The proposed detector solution is based on our experience of operating a cold neutron diffractometer for twenty years as well as the present and perspective needs of the user community, in particular the strong Swiss user community. With the new high efficiency detector DMC - and diffraction at SINQ in general - will strengthen its position for research in the fields of solid state physics, crystallography, material science and especially magnetism on national and international level.The new detector will be a modern curved gas detector with two-dimensional mapping. This is a major improvement in terms of efficiency with an intensity gain of well above an order of magnitude as well as a major improvement in terms of data quality and applications due to the two-dimensional detection. The new detector will allow to date unfeasible experiments like fast in-situ measurements and detection of weak effects like small ordered magnetic moments. In addition, the compact design and the use of non-magnetic materials is particularly suited for studies using extreme sample environments such as pressure cells and high magnetic field magnets. We will use the new high efficiency detector for a number of already funded research projects. They cover divers research fields from applied research on fuel cell materials as well as a new class of permanent magnets to fundamental research on magnetism and superconductivity.
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