Superconducting Wollaston Prism for Spin Echo Scattering Angle Measurement

Neutron Scattering has been an extremely productive materials science probe for over 60 years. It is no exaggeration to say that any technology that uses plastics has benefitted from it in some way from Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS). Unfortunately, SANS is limited to studying molecular structures with sizes between 1 to 100 nm and so often misses larger details. Similarly, neutron radiography has played an important role in identifying and tracking hydrogen in structures from cracked aircraft wings to fuel cells, but is limited by its ability to discriminate between certain materials. We plan to address both of these areas with a new technology. For addressing the SANS problem, and also revolutionizing neutron phase contrast radiography, Adelphi is developing a novel Superconducting Wollaston Prism (HiTc-Wollaston Prism instrument) for Spin Echo Scattering Angle Measurement (SESAME) that uses high temperature superconducting (HiTc) coils and Meissner screens. This achieves high magnetic fields and dimensional precision required for accurate structural measurements over length scales from nanometers to 20 microns. The HiTc-Wollaston Prism instruments use matched Wollaston prism pairs that precisely cancel neutron spin precession needed for spin echo angle encoding. We accomplished all 4 goals Phase I project by designing, simulating, optimizing, and fabricating a single HiTc-Wollaston prism based on high-temperature superconducting (HiTc) technology. The HiTc-Wollaston prism was successfully tested at Indiana University and NIST. Our success prompted an offer of collaboration from ISIS, a leading European neutron facility. In Phase II we will design, optimize, fabricate, and test the HiTc-Wollaston 4-Prism instrument for SESAME and the HiTc-Wollaston 2-Prism instrument for phase contrast radiography at U.S. neutron scattering facilities. We will also collaborate with the US and worldwide facilities to develop and market the HiTc-Wollaston Prism instruments for reflectometry and diffractometry. Commercial Applications and OtherBenefits: By extension of the range of structural objects that can be studied, the HiTc-Wollaston Prism instrument will open new fields of material science studies. Applications are in petrochemicals (colloids, micro-emulsions and polymers), biotechnology and medicine (membranes, macromolecules), and industry (metallurgy, ceramics, polymers, electrolytes in fuel cells, magnetic sensors and memory). Master of HiTc-technology will allow us to develop components for other polarized neutron instruments and increase our market impact worldwide.