59
Using
Convergent Beams for Small-Sample, Time-of-Flight Neutron
Diffraction--X-Ray
Optical Systems, Inc., 30 Corporate Circle, Albany, NY
12203; 518-464-3334
Dr.
Walter Gibson, Principal Investigator, wgibson@xos.com
Mr.
David Usher, Business Official, dusher@xos.com
DOE
Grant No. DE-FG02-02ER83575
Amount:
$98,713
Currently, large crystals and long
measurement times are required for neutron diffraction measurements, used in
materials science research. The use
of convergent beam diffraction could significantly reduce both crystal size and
measurement time for otherwise impractical neutron diffraction measurements such
as protein structure, high pressure phase studies, and magnetic structure
studies, as well as for strain, composition, and texture mapping of
inhomogeneous samples. This project
will develop technology for focusing neutron beams with polycapillary optics,
providing greatly increased intensity and increased reciprocal phase space, and
allowing the use of small pressure- and temperature-controlled samples.
The measurements also will provide the basis for convergent beam neutron
diffraction for future pulsed neutron sources for small sample biological
macromolecular crystallography. Phase
I will design and fabricate the polycapillary focusing optics so as to be, suitable
for convergent beam crystallography for the Single Crystal Diffraction (SCD) and
the General Purpose Powder Diffraction (GPPD) instruments at the Intense Pulsed
Neutron Source at Argonne National Laboratory.
The optics will be characterized with x-rays and with neutrons on SCD and
GPPD for diffraction measurements with selected crystals.
Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the
awardee: A compact convergent beam
diffraction system that provides shorter evaluation times and smaller sample
requirements should lead to faster development cycles for new drugs and other
materials. Not only would neutron
beam lines be a targeted market, but also the new optics would be applicable to
x-ray diffraction.
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