HC8-a
Double-Crystal SANS Diffractometer MAUD (former DN-2)


The double-crystal diffractometer MAUD is designed for the measurements of neutron small-angle scattering in the high Q-resolution range. In contrast to conventional double-crystal arrangements, the fully asymmetric diffraction geometry on the elastically bent Si analyzer is employed to transfer the angular distribution of the scattered neutrons to the spatial distribution and to analyze the whole scattering curve by a one-dimensional position sensitive detector. It reduces the exposition time per sample typically to 0.5-5 hours (depending on the Q-resolution and sample cross-section). The remote control of the curvatures of the monochromator and analyzer crystals makes possible to tune the instrument resolution easily in the dQ range from 10-4 to 10-3 Ă -1, according to the expected size of investigated inhomogeneities. An absolute calibra-tion of scattering cross-sections is possible by measuring the intensity of the direct beam (no calibration samples are required). The instrument operates in fully automatic mode, including sample exchange.

Applications:
Investigation of material inhomogeneities in the size range (0.05÷5) micrometer, particularly
  • porous materials (porous glasses, plasma- sprayed ceramics, hydrated cement pastes)
  • large precipitates in metallic alloys
  • refraction on magnetic domains etc.

  • Instrument Parameters

    Monochromator   bent perfect crystal Si(111), symmetric reflection
    Sample maximum cross-section 5x25 mm2
    Analyzer bent perfect crystal Si 111, fully asymmetric geometry
    Detector 1-dimensional position sensitive detector, 3He filled, resolution ~ 1 mm
    Wavelength 2.1 Ă
    Neutron flux 5x103 ÷ 5x104 n s-1 cm-2
    Q-resolution 10-4 ÷ 10-3 Ă-1
    Q-range 2x10-4 ÷ 2x10-2Ă-1



    Si-analyzer in the bending holder and the sample exchanger.


    Double-Crystal SANS Diffractometer MAUD and Neutron Interferometer
    Useful links (software, SLD calculator etc.)