Neutron Reflectometer (GANS) at the University of Missouri Research Reactor

The reflectometer at the 10 MW University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR) for grazing angle neutron scattering (GANS) has recently been recommissioned. Presently, the availability of neutron reflectometry in North America is very limited. Neutron reflectometry is useful for probing the nanoscale interfaces of thin films of soft matter and magnetic materials. Although polarized neutrons are not currently available on GANS, the instrument has been used in that configuration in the past and polarized operation with spin analysis is envisioned in the near future. Available sample environments include a 10K CC-cryocooler, an electromagnet (2.5 kG), and a flow cell. GANS uses a vertically focusing PG monochromator yielding neutrons with a 2.35 Å wavelength and 2% Δλ/λ resolution. The instrument features interchangeable slit holders with slits from 0.1mm to 12mm (beam size 0.1x70 mm² to 12x70 mm²), as well as motorized rotary variable slits. The detector is a half-inch diameter He³ pencil detector located 1200mm from the sample position. The beam flux is approximately 10⁵ neutrons/cm²/s at the sample and the possible dynamic range for reflectivity is ~10^-7. Maximum reachable Q is 0.25 (1/Å) and spatial resolution of ~1.2nm.

The neutron scattering group at MURR is interested to develop collaborative research with the community on GANS, as well as on our triple-axis and powder diffractometers.