‘Newton’ fast shutter system for neutron scattering instruments at the ESS and ISIS neutron sources
(2023) In Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment 1055.- Abstract
Interfacial processes are involved in many areas of chemistry, physics and biochemistry, but following the structural changes of surfaces and thin films at relevant timescales remains challenging. Time-of flight neutron reflectometry can determine changes in surface composition and film thickness, but the speed of these measurements is typically limited by the neutron flux over the range of wavelengths available at existing instrumentation. This necessarily means that, even using the time-of-flight method, measurements over several angles of incidence are required to cover the full Q-range important for structural determination. The very high intensity of the ESS pulsed source makes such configuration changes very inefficient, as the... (More)
Interfacial processes are involved in many areas of chemistry, physics and biochemistry, but following the structural changes of surfaces and thin films at relevant timescales remains challenging. Time-of flight neutron reflectometry can determine changes in surface composition and film thickness, but the speed of these measurements is typically limited by the neutron flux over the range of wavelengths available at existing instrumentation. This necessarily means that, even using the time-of-flight method, measurements over several angles of incidence are required to cover the full Q-range important for structural determination. The very high intensity of the ESS pulsed source makes such configuration changes very inefficient, as the measurements can potentially be recorded in seconds or even milliseconds. Here, we present a conceptual design and some preliminary results from a new type of fast beam shutter system that will allow efficient measurement of broad angular ranges at sub-second timescales. The shutter system is conceptually also potentially useful for a fast aperture application on the ZOOM instrument at the ISIS Target station 2. By using two perpendicular shutters with slits cut into them, it is possible to create a square aperture within the beam as the neutron pulse passes. We believe that the flexibility demonstrated will mean that this system has the potential to be generally useful in many neutron instrumentation applications.
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- author
- Jacewicz, Marek ; Elmer, Jon ; Doutch, James ; Arnold, Thomas ; Nightingale, Jim ; Ekelöf, Tord and Nylander, Tommy LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2023-10
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Fast shutter system, FREIA instrument, Neutron reflectometry, SANS, ZOOM instrument
- in
- Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
- volume
- 1055
- article number
- 168556
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85166262040
- ISSN
- 0168-9002
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.nima.2023.168556
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 50a897ce-9227-4031-a37b-f41fba575b34
- date added to LUP
- 2023-10-09 16:52:51
- date last changed
- 2023-11-21 23:23:58
@article{50a897ce-9227-4031-a37b-f41fba575b34,
abstract = {{<p>Interfacial processes are involved in many areas of chemistry, physics and biochemistry, but following the structural changes of surfaces and thin films at relevant timescales remains challenging. Time-of flight neutron reflectometry can determine changes in surface composition and film thickness, but the speed of these measurements is typically limited by the neutron flux over the range of wavelengths available at existing instrumentation. This necessarily means that, even using the time-of-flight method, measurements over several angles of incidence are required to cover the full Q-range important for structural determination. The very high intensity of the ESS pulsed source makes such configuration changes very inefficient, as the measurements can potentially be recorded in seconds or even milliseconds. Here, we present a conceptual design and some preliminary results from a new type of fast beam shutter system that will allow efficient measurement of broad angular ranges at sub-second timescales. The shutter system is conceptually also potentially useful for a fast aperture application on the ZOOM instrument at the ISIS Target station 2. By using two perpendicular shutters with slits cut into them, it is possible to create a square aperture within the beam as the neutron pulse passes. We believe that the flexibility demonstrated will mean that this system has the potential to be generally useful in many neutron instrumentation applications.</p>}},
author = {{Jacewicz, Marek and Elmer, Jon and Doutch, James and Arnold, Thomas and Nightingale, Jim and Ekelöf, Tord and Nylander, Tommy}},
issn = {{0168-9002}},
keywords = {{Fast shutter system; FREIA instrument; Neutron reflectometry; SANS; ZOOM instrument}},
language = {{eng}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment}},
title = {{‘Newton’ fast shutter system for neutron scattering instruments at the ESS and ISIS neutron sources}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2023.168556}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.nima.2023.168556}},
volume = {{1055}},
year = {{2023}},
}