Diffraction of slow neutrons by holographic SiO2 nanoparticle-polymer composite gratings

• Diffraction experiments with holographic gratings recorded in SiO2 nanoparticle-polymer composites have been carried out with slow neutrons. The influence of parameters such as nanoparticle concentration, grating thickness, and grating spacing on the neutron-optical properties of such materials has been tested. Decay of the grating structure along the sample depth due to disturbance of the recording process becomes an issue at grating thicknesses of about 100 microns and larger. This limits the achievable diffraction efficiency for neutrons. As a solution to this problem, the Pendellosung interference effect in holographic gratings has been exploited to reach a diffraction efficiency of 83% for very cold neutrons.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)