A time lens for high resolution neutron time of flight spectrometers

TL;DR

This paper explores the design and analysis of temporal neutron lenses created by traveling magnetic fields, aiming to improve neutron time of flight spectrometers by enabling imaging capabilities that enhance resolution and intensity.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to neutron imaging using traveling magnetic fields, deriving imaging equations and analyzing aberrations for the first time.

Findings

Imaging equations for parabolic magnetic fields are derived.

The system is feasible and can convert existing instruments to imaging configurations.

Potential for increased resolution and new applications in neutron spectrometry.

Abstract

We examine in analytic and numeric ways the imaging effects of temporal neutron lenses created by traveling magnetic fields. For fields of parabolic shape we derive the imaging equations, investigate the time-magnification, the evolution of the phase space element, the gain factor and the effect of finite beam size. The main aberration effects are calculated numerically. The system is technologically feasible and should convert neutron time of flight instruments from pinhole- to imaging configuration in time, thus enhancing intensity and/or time resolution. New fields of application for high resolution spectrometry may be opened.