Data-processing technique for the Taipan “Be-filter” neutron spectrometer at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation

Abstract

There are five filter-analyzer neutron spectrometers available worldwide for scientists to use in order to measure the vibrational density of states in various samples. While Taipan, the thermal spectrometer, has been operated as a triple-axis spectrometer at the Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering since 2010, a beryllium filter analyzer spectrometer was added in 2016. Due to the complex nature of the data post-processing, it has thus far been impossible to fully treat experimental data from scientific measurements taken over the last five years. We have successfully created a robust method of treating data from the Taipan filter-analyzer and present the method on three different samples. The data-treatment process includes correction for the non-linear energy variation of a particular monochromator, removal of higher-order wavelength contamination, and estimation of low-energy multiple-scattering. The steps described here can be utilized by all users of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation “Be-filter”—past, present, and future.