Monte-Carlo simulation of neutron transmission through nanocomposite materials for neutron-optics applications

M. Blaickner, B. Demirel, Irena Drevensek-Olenik, Martin Fally, Peter Flauger, Peter Geltenbort, Y. Hasegawa, R. Kurinjimala, M. Ličen, Christian Pruner, Stephan Sponar, Yasuo Tomita, Jürgen Klepp

Publications: Contribution to journalArticlePeer Reviewed

Abstract

Nanocomposites enable us to tune parameters that are crucial for use of such materials for neutron-optics applications. By careful choice of properties such as species (isotope) and concentration of contained nanoparticles, diffractive optical elements for long-wavelength neutrons are feasible. Nanocomposites for neutron optics have so far been tested successfully in protonated form, containing high amounts of H-1 atoms, which exhibits rather strong neutron absorption and incoherent scattering. At a future stage of development, chemicals containing H-1 could be replaced by components containing more favorable isotopes, such as H-2 or F-19. In this note, we present results of Monte-Carlo simulations of the transmissivity of various nanocomposite materials for thermal and very-cold neutron spectra. Our simulation results for deuterated and fluorinated nanocomposite materials predict the losses due to absorption and scattering to be as low as 2%, as well as the broadening of the beam cross section to be negligible.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)154-157
Number of pages4
JournalNuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research. Section A. Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors, and Associated Equipment
Volume916
Early online date2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2019

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

  • 103021 Optics

Keywords

  • DIFFRACTION
  • INTERFEROMETER
  • Monte Carlo simulations
  • Nanocomposite materials
  • Neutron optics
  • SCATTERING

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