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Title: Diffraction of slow neutrons by holographic SiO{sub 2} nanoparticle-polymer composite gratings

Journal Article · · Physical Review. A
;  [1];  [2];  [3];  [4]; ; ;  [5];  [5];  [6];  [7]
  1. University of Vienna, Faculty of Physics, A-1090 Wien (Austria)
  2. University of Salzburg, Department of Materials Science and Physics, A-5020 Salzburg (Austria)
  3. University of Electro-Communications, Department of Engineering Science, 1-5-1 Chofugaoka, Chofu, Tokyo 182 (Japan)
  4. University of Mainz, Institute for Nuclear Chemistry, D-55128 Mainz (Germany)
  5. Institut Laue Langevin, Boite Postale 156, F-38042 Grenoble Cedex 9 (France)
  6. Laboratory for Neutron Scattering, Paul Scherrer Institut, CH-5232 Villigen PSI (Switzerland)
  7. Taibah University, Faculty of Science, Physics Department, 30002 Madinah (Saudi Arabia)

Diffraction experiments with holographic gratings recorded in SiO{sub 2} nanoparticle-polymer composites have been carried out with slow neutrons. The influence of parameters such as nanoparticle concentration, grating thickness, and grating spacing on the neutron-optical properties of such materials has been tested. Decay of the grating structure along the sample depth due to disturbance of the recording process becomes an issue at grating thicknesses of about 100 microns and larger. This limits the achievable diffraction efficiency for neutrons. As a solution to this problem, the Pendelloesung interference effect in holographic gratings has been exploited to reach a diffraction efficiency of 83% for very cold neutrons.

OSTI ID:
22058754
Journal Information:
Physical Review. A, Vol. 84, Issue 1; Other Information: (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1050-2947
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English