Towards generalized data reduction on a chopper-based time-of-flight neutron reflectometer

TL;DR

This paper presents a comprehensive data reduction method for neutron reflectometry on chopper-based time-of-flight instruments, including software implementation and validation with experimental data from ILL.

Contribution

It introduces a generalized data reduction approach and software (COSMOS) for neutron reflectometry, improving accuracy and applicability across different instruments.

Findings

Theoretical calculations align well with experimental data.

The COSMOS software effectively reduces raw data to reflectivity.

Enhanced resolution calculation improves data accuracy.

Abstract

The calculation of neutron reflectivity from raw time-of-flight data including instrumental corrections as well as improved resolution calculation is presented. The theoretical calculations are compared to experimental data measured on the vertical sample plane reflectometer D17 and the horizontal sample plane reflectometer FIGARO at the Institut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble, France (ILL). This article comprises the mathematical body of the time-of-flight reflectivity data reduction software COSMOS which is used on D17 and FIGARO.