MIASANS at the longitudinal neutron resonant spin-echo spectrometer RESEDA

TL;DR

This paper describes the optimization and recent upgrades of the MIASANS instrument at the RESEDA neutron spectrometer, enhancing its capabilities for small angle neutron scattering and dynamic range in neutron scattering experiments.

Contribution

The paper reports new superconducting solenoids, a versatile detector setup, and background reduction techniques for the MIASANS instrument, improving its performance and flexibility.

Findings

Extended dynamic range with superconducting solenoids

Enhanced detector flexibility and angular resolution

Reduced background noise in measurements

Abstract

The RESEDA (Resonant Spin-Echo for Diverse Applications) instrument has been optimized for neutron scattering measurements of quasi-elastic and inelastic processes over a wide parameter range. One spectrometer arm of RESEDA is configured for the MIEZE (Modulation of Intensity with Zero Effort) technique, where the measured signal is an oscillation in neutron intensity over time prepared by two precisely tuned radio-frequency (RF) flippers. With MIEZE, all spin-manipulations are performed before the beam reaches the sample, and thus the signal from sample scattering is not disrupted by any depolarizing conditions there (i.e. magnetic materials and fields). The MIEZE spectrometer is being further optimized for the requirements of small angle neutron scattering (MIASANS), a versatile combination of the spatial and dynamical resolving power of both techniques. We present the current status of (i) the newly installed superconducting solenoids as part of the RF flippers to significantly extend the dynamic range (ii) the development and installation of a new detector on a translation stage within a new larger SANS-type vacuum vessel for flexibility with angular coverage and resolution, and (iii) the efforts to reduce background.