Neutron Reflectometer with Polarization Option at the Budapest Neutron Centre

TL;DR

This paper introduces the GINA neutron reflectometer at Budapest Neutron Centre, highlighting its design, capabilities, and initial applications in magnetic thin film analysis, addressing the growing need for advanced surface characterization tools.

Contribution

It presents the design, construction, and first use of a new neutron reflectometer with polarization at BNC, expanding tools for magnetic thin film research.

Findings

Successful initial operation of GINA reflectometer

Enhanced capabilities for magnetic thin film analysis

First experimental results demonstrating instrument performance

Abstract

The ever increasing need for product advancement and miniaturization keeps thin film assemblies, membranes, magnetic and non-magnetic multilayer and patterned heterostructures in the limelight of material science and technological development. A number of thin film and surface characterization methods have emerged recently to meet the new challenges. The increased interest in magnetic thin film analytical instruments - mainly triggered by the discovery of the giant magnetoresistance and related phenomena1 - resulted in a boom of PNR studies as well as of the construction of a number of new neutron reflectometers with polarization option at neutron sources all over the world. Here we report on the design, construction and operation parameters and first example uses of the "Grazing Incidence Neutron Apparatus" (GINA) a recently installed neutron reflectometer at the Budapest Neutron Centre (BNC), Hungary.