Polarized Neutrons at ISIS: Recent Developments And Highlights

TL;DR

This paper reports recent advancements in polarized neutron experiments at ISIS, focusing on optimizing a compact magnetostatic cavity and improving $^{3}He$ relaxation times through alkali metal coatings, enhancing experimental performance.

Contribution

It introduces a new compact magnetostatic cavity design and a novel chamber for studying alkali metal coatings to improve $^{3}He$ relaxation times in neutron scattering experiments.

Findings

The magnetostatic cavity achieves a 421-hour relaxation time for $^{3}He$ cells.

A new chamber allows for detailed study of alkali metal coatings on substrates.

Initial results suggest coatings may significantly enhance $^{3}He$ relaxation times.

Abstract

We present two recent projects which aim to improve the performance of polarized neutron scattering experiments using hyperpolarized $^{3}He$ spin filters at ISIS. The first is the optimization of a new compact magnetostatic cavity ("Magic Box") to house the $^{3}He$ spin filters based on an existing design. With a length of only 380 mm, it provides a field gradient relaxation time for the $^{3}He$ cell of 421 h in ambient conditions. It also contains a radiofrequency coil for adiabatic fast passage flipping. The second project is dedicated to the improvement of the $^{3}He$ relaxation time inside the spin filter cell. We have developed a chamber which allows for the deposition of alkali metal coatings on the surface of substrates. This emulates the spin filter cell walls, as well as subsequent heat treatment, thus mimicking the preparation of a new spin filter cell. The chamber is air-tight and has transparent windows, so that the structure resulting from the deposition of alkali metal on the surface of the wafer can be studied by X-ray or neutron reflectometry. We plan to continue this work by performing a systematic study at various conditions, which should help to shed light on the long-standing mystery of how alkali metal coatings help to improve relaxation time of $^{3}He$ cells. The first results are discussed in the text.