Nondispersive neutron focusing method beyond the critical angle of mirrors

Patent · Tue Oct 21 04:00:00 EDT 2008

OSTI ID:957005

Ice, Gene E ^[1]

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1. Oak Ridge, TN

This invention extends the Kirkpatrick-Baez (KB) mirror focusing geometry to allow nondispersive focusing of neutrons with a convergence on a sample much larger than is possible with existing KB optical schemes by establishing an array of at least three mirrors and focusing neutrons by appropriate multiple deflections via the array. The method may be utilized with supermirrors, multilayer mirrors, or total external reflection mirrors. Because high-energy x-rays behave like neutrons in their absorption and reflectivity rates, this method may be used with x-rays as well as neutrons.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN
• Sponsoring Organization: United States Deparment of Energy
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): 7,439,492
• Application Number: 11/344,044
• OSTI ID: 957005
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English