In-situ 3He SEOP polarizer for Thermal neutrons

Abstract

In this article, we describe a neutron polarizer for a new time-of-flight neutron spectrometer with the polarization analysis TOPAS. This instrument will use the convergent focused incoming beam of thermal neutrons with energies up to 150 meV (wavelength down to 0.74Å). The polarizer employs a high opacity 3He neutron spin filter with continuous 3He polarization provided by two laser array bars frequency narrowed by an ultra-compact volume Bragg grating. The system was successfully prototyped, and tested. In the course of first experimental test at the polarized hot neutron diffractometer POLI at MLZ, neutron polarization of 97.6% was achieved for 0.895Å neutrons and kept constant during 30 days.