TOF-USANS - Time-of-Flight Ultra-Small-Angle Neutron Scattering Instrument

The TOF-USANS instrument is designed for the study of hierarchical structures in natural and man-made materials. It can be considered an advanced version of the classical Bonse-Hart Double-Crystal Diffractometer (DCD), which, in contrast with its single-wavelength reactor-based analog, will operate with the discrete multiwavelength spectrum of Bragg reflections. The optical scheme of the TOF-USANS instrument is similar to that of the conventional Bonse-Hart DCD; however, the pulsed nature of SNS offers an opportunity to separate the orders of Bragg reflection in time space using the time-of-flight technique. Thus, the concept of the TOF-USANS technique allows optimization of the neutron flux and the Q resolution, following the principles of dynamical diffraction theory.

Applications

Ultra-small-angle neutron scattering provides a new way to solve a broad range of scientific problems such as:

  • Supramolecular structure of polymer blends
  • Macroscale self-similarity of rocks
  • Structure of colloidal crystals and alloys
  • Hydration of cement pasts
  • Aggregation in colloidal dispersions
  • Self-assembling of polymers
  • Mesoscopic structure of natural composites
  • Structure of granular powders
  • Morphology of colloidal reinforcing fillers
  • Structure and morphology of complex fluids
  • Rheology and morphology of hydrogels