Feasibility and applications of the spin-echo modulation option for a small angle neutron scattering instrument at the European Spallation Source

TL;DR

This paper explores the theoretical and practical feasibility of combining spin-echo modulated small-angle neutron scattering (SEMSANS) with traditional SANS at the European Spallation Source, enabling simultaneous observation of a broad range of length scales.

Contribution

It presents a detailed assessment of integrating SEMSANS with SANS, demonstrating the potential for simultaneous multi-scale measurements at the ESS.

Findings

Lengths from 1 nm to 0.01 mm can be observed simultaneously.

The combined setup is suitable for time-resolved studies of complex systems.

Preliminary results support the scientific merit of the integrated approach.

Abstract

We describe theoretical and practical aspects of spin-echo modulated small-angle neutron scattering (SEMSANS) as well as the potential combination with SANS. Based on the preliminary technical designs of SKADI (a SANS instrument proposed for the European Spallation Source) and a SEMSANS add-on, we assess the practicability, feasibility and scientific merit of a combined SANS and SEMSANS setup by calculating tentative SANS and SEMSANS results for soft matter, geology and advanced material samples that have been previously studied by scattering methods. We conclude that lengths from 1 nm up to 0.01 mm can be observed simultaneously in a single measurement. Thus, the combination of SANS and SEMSANS instrument is suited for the simultaneous observation of a wide range of length scales, e.g. for time-resolved studies of kinetic processes in complex multiscale systems.