neutron; magnetism; detector; diffraction; crystallography
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.
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.
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.