SESANS:Spin-echo small-angle neutron scattering

SESANS is an efficient method to measure structures of materials in real space. Structures can be determined over three orders of magnitude in length scale, from 20 nanometer to 20 micrometer, which is an order of magnitude larger than conventional small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). In contrast to traditional scattering methods, the data in real space, rather than reciprocal space, this makes interpretation easier. These properties make SESANS a new powerful tool for the study of structural properties of materials.

In Delft we have built the first dedicated SESANS-instrument. The project has been continued with the development of the spin-echo components of OFFSPEC the reflectometer at the 2^nd target station at ISIS. In the following links, we describe the essentials of the technique and give some examples of its applications.

Technique

• Classical Larmor precession explanation
• Semi-quantum mechanical explanation
• SESANS by modulation

Examples and applications

• Gratings
• Colloidal phase diagram
• Milk aggregation
• Granular matter
• Micro-emulsion (cream cheese)

Selected publications to give an overview of the technique

• The microscopic distribution of hydrophilic polymers in interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) of medical grade silicone
  G.N. Smith, E. Brok, M. Schmiele, K. Mortensen, W.G. Bouwman, C.P. Duif, T. Hassenkam, M. Alm, P. Thomsen, L. Arleth
  Polymer 224 123671 (2021)
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2021.123761
• Spin-echo small-angle neutron scattering for multiscale structure analysis of food materials
  W.G.Bouwman
  Food Structure 30 100235 (2021)
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foostr.2021.100235
• Analysis of spin-echo small-angle neutron scattering
  R. Andersson, L.F. van Heijkamp, I.M. de Schepper, W.G. Bouwman
  J. Appl. Cryst.. 41, 868-885(2008)
  dx.doi.org/10.1107/S0021889808026770
• Real-space neutron scattering methods
  W.G. Bouwman, J. Plomp, V.O. de Haan, W.H. Kraan, A.A. van Well, K. Habicht, T. Keller, M.T. Rekveldt
  Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A 586 9–14 (2008)
  dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2007.11.045
• Spin-echo small-angle neutron scattering for magnetic samples
  S.V. Grigoriev, W.H. Kraan, M.Th. Rekveldt, T. Kruglov and W.G. Bouwman
  J. Appl. Cryst. 39, 252-258 (2006)
  dx.doi.org/10.1107/S002188980600481X
• Spin-echo small angle neutron scattering in Delft
  M.Th. Rekveldt, J. Plomp, W.G. Bouwman, W.H. Kraan, S.V. Grigoriev and M. Blaauw
  Review of scientific Instruments 76 033901 (2005)
  dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1858579
• Comparison of the performance of SANS and SESANS
  W.G. Bouwman, Roger Pynn and M.Th. Rekveldt
  Physica B 350 E787-E790 (2004)
  dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physb.2004.03.205

PhD theses

Spin-Echo Small-Angle Neutron Scattering Development, Oktay Uca (2003)

Spin-Echo Small-Angle Neutron Scattering applied to colloidal systems , Timofey Kruglov (2005)

Microstructure in Powders, Spin-Echo Small-Angle Neutron Scattering Measurements , Robert Andersson (2008)