Multilayer Guide Manufacturing Facility (MGMF) to furnish neutron supermirror guides in high volume

Phase III Physics LLC (P3P) recently established a foundation for high volume neutron guide manufacturing in anticipation of the impending domestic and international surge in demand for substantial neutron delivery systems. Phase-I efforts included (1) the establishment of supermirror recipes and production schemes that yielded supermirror samples that were tested on the BL-04A reflectometer instrument at ORNL, (2) the acquisition and refurbishment of very large stainless steel vacuum chambers once utilized for the Neutral Particle Beam Accelerator of the U.S. Strategic Defense Initiative (1983-1993), which are now being integrated in our production scheme, and (3) the development of a complete design model of a high capacity neutron supermirror deposition system. During the Phase-II portion of this effort we propose to: Continue the intensive R&D effort to improve sample quality Construct and utilize a dedicated reflectometry instrument Complete the assembly of our high volume deposition system We will continue our collaboration with University of Southern California to improve our supermirror recipe and fabrication methods through lessons learned during comparison between ORNL reflectivity data and simulated reflectivity curves, including a comprehensive study of sputtering techniques that are known to reduce surface roughness and strain of the layers in the multilayer system. Indiana University Bloomington will establish a P3P-dedicated neutron reflectometry instrument at their recently-revived Low Energy Neutron Source (LENS), which will be used to test our improved supermirror samples. This effort is critical to the realization of competitive supermirror products. Finally, we will continue to utilize independent contractor and mechanical engineer Dr. Walter R. Fox, to support the ongoing construction of our high capacity physical layer deposition system at P3P, which will be used to produce neutron supermirrors in high volume. This effort will be led by P3P founder Dr. Christopher Haddock who is well-established in the field of fundamental neutron physics and will continue to leverage his experience in the field to find an optimal path to commercial success for US-produced neutron guides.