Neutron Mirrors and Substrates for Nested Mirror Optics

Neutron Mirrors and Substrates for Nested Mirror Optics

ORNL is developing nested mirror optics (NMOs) to act as corrective lenses for neutron scattering instruments at both pulsed and reactor neutron sources. Nested mirror optics deliver a full optics system in a device the size of a shoebox, which means they can be easily exchanged based on the current need of an instrument. This will greatly improve the signal-to-background ratios for neutron scattering, especially for experiments involving new materials or biological samples that can only be prepared in small quantities and where samples are in constrained environments such as pressure cells or high magnetic fields. The nested mirror optics consist of several individual, neutron mirror segments mounted in a frame that holds each mirror in a specific orientation. Silicon wafer substrates without a neutron mirror coating are used for evaluation of the frame.