Detector development for spin-echo SANS techniques using ZnS:Ag/6LiF and 6Li glass scintillators
Abstract Neutron spin-echo techniques exploit Larmor precession of the neutron spin to encode either the scattering angle or energy. These are powerful means to extend the measurable momentum transfer (Q) and energy (E) range in neutron scattering measurements. Standard small-angle neutron scatterin...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87864-1 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832571833753272320 |
|---|---|
| author | Giacomo Mauri G. Jeff Sykora Gregory N. Smith Steven R. Parnell Robert M. Dalgliesh Dirk Honecker Sarah E. Mann Erik M. Schooneveld Nigel J. Rhodes |
| author_facet | Giacomo Mauri G. Jeff Sykora Gregory N. Smith Steven R. Parnell Robert M. Dalgliesh Dirk Honecker Sarah E. Mann Erik M. Schooneveld Nigel J. Rhodes |
| author_sort | Giacomo Mauri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Neutron spin-echo techniques exploit Larmor precession of the neutron spin to encode either the scattering angle or energy. These are powerful means to extend the measurable momentum transfer (Q) and energy (E) range in neutron scattering measurements. Standard small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) instruments are sensitive in a range of $$\approx$$ ≈ 10–200 nm, whereas these techniques allow the study of structures in materials on length scales of tens of nm up to tens of $$\upmu$$ μ m. The Larmor instrument at ISIS is equipped to operate in spin-echo modulated SANS (SEMSANS) and spin-echo SANS (SESANS) mode. Two separate detectors were developed to cope with the performance demands set by these techniques. The first is a position sensitive ZnS:Ag/6LiF scintillator-based detector coupled with wavelength shifting fibres that can be used for both SEMSANS and SESANS. A detector prototype using GS20 glass scintillator directly coupled to a multi-anode photomultiplier was developed as an alternative for SESANS measurements at higher incident neutron fluxes. The designs and results obtained with the two detectors are presented together with future improvements to both technologies. These, in addition to promising development routes, demonstrate the potential for utilising a WLSF ZnS:Ag/6LiF scintillator detector and a pixelated GS20 detector for SEMSANS and SESANS applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f9d53890e2f340ce9d0e3d8bc78a93d9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-f9d53890e2f340ce9d0e3d8bc78a93d92025-02-02T12:17:14ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115111310.1038/s41598-025-87864-1Detector development for spin-echo SANS techniques using ZnS:Ag/6LiF and 6Li glass scintillatorsGiacomo Mauri0G. Jeff Sykora1Gregory N. Smith2Steven R. Parnell3Robert M. Dalgliesh4Dirk Honecker5Sarah E. Mann6Erik M. Schooneveld7Nigel J. Rhodes8Science and Technology Facilities Council, ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, Rutherford Appleton LaboratoryScience and Technology Facilities Council, ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, Rutherford Appleton LaboratoryScience and Technology Facilities Council, ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, Rutherford Appleton LaboratoryScience and Technology Facilities Council, ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, Rutherford Appleton LaboratoryScience and Technology Facilities Council, ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, Rutherford Appleton LaboratoryScience and Technology Facilities Council, ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, Rutherford Appleton LaboratoryScience and Technology Facilities Council, ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, Rutherford Appleton LaboratoryScience and Technology Facilities Council, ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, Rutherford Appleton LaboratoryScience and Technology Facilities Council, ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, Rutherford Appleton LaboratoryAbstract Neutron spin-echo techniques exploit Larmor precession of the neutron spin to encode either the scattering angle or energy. These are powerful means to extend the measurable momentum transfer (Q) and energy (E) range in neutron scattering measurements. Standard small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) instruments are sensitive in a range of $$\approx$$ ≈ 10–200 nm, whereas these techniques allow the study of structures in materials on length scales of tens of nm up to tens of $$\upmu$$ μ m. The Larmor instrument at ISIS is equipped to operate in spin-echo modulated SANS (SEMSANS) and spin-echo SANS (SESANS) mode. Two separate detectors were developed to cope with the performance demands set by these techniques. The first is a position sensitive ZnS:Ag/6LiF scintillator-based detector coupled with wavelength shifting fibres that can be used for both SEMSANS and SESANS. A detector prototype using GS20 glass scintillator directly coupled to a multi-anode photomultiplier was developed as an alternative for SESANS measurements at higher incident neutron fluxes. The designs and results obtained with the two detectors are presented together with future improvements to both technologies. These, in addition to promising development routes, demonstrate the potential for utilising a WLSF ZnS:Ag/6LiF scintillator detector and a pixelated GS20 detector for SEMSANS and SESANS applications.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87864-1 |
| spellingShingle | Giacomo Mauri G. Jeff Sykora Gregory N. Smith Steven R. Parnell Robert M. Dalgliesh Dirk Honecker Sarah E. Mann Erik M. Schooneveld Nigel J. Rhodes Detector development for spin-echo SANS techniques using ZnS:Ag/6LiF and 6Li glass scintillators Scientific Reports |
| title | Detector development for spin-echo SANS techniques using ZnS:Ag/6LiF and 6Li glass scintillators |
| title_full | Detector development for spin-echo SANS techniques using ZnS:Ag/6LiF and 6Li glass scintillators |
| title_fullStr | Detector development for spin-echo SANS techniques using ZnS:Ag/6LiF and 6Li glass scintillators |
| title_full_unstemmed | Detector development for spin-echo SANS techniques using ZnS:Ag/6LiF and 6Li glass scintillators |
| title_short | Detector development for spin-echo SANS techniques using ZnS:Ag/6LiF and 6Li glass scintillators |
| title_sort | detector development for spin echo sans techniques using zns ag 6lif and 6li glass scintillators |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87864-1 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT giacomomauri detectordevelopmentforspinechosanstechniquesusingznsag6lifand6liglassscintillators AT gjeffsykora detectordevelopmentforspinechosanstechniquesusingznsag6lifand6liglassscintillators AT gregorynsmith detectordevelopmentforspinechosanstechniquesusingznsag6lifand6liglassscintillators AT stevenrparnell detectordevelopmentforspinechosanstechniquesusingznsag6lifand6liglassscintillators AT robertmdalgliesh detectordevelopmentforspinechosanstechniquesusingznsag6lifand6liglassscintillators AT dirkhonecker detectordevelopmentforspinechosanstechniquesusingznsag6lifand6liglassscintillators AT sarahemann detectordevelopmentforspinechosanstechniquesusingznsag6lifand6liglassscintillators AT erikmschooneveld detectordevelopmentforspinechosanstechniquesusingznsag6lifand6liglassscintillators AT nigeljrhodes detectordevelopmentforspinechosanstechniquesusingznsag6lifand6liglassscintillators |