Journal Article

IMPULSE-2025-00106

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Advances in detection for neutron reflectometry with time-resolved imaging detectors

Khaplanov, A. (Corresponding author) ; Ankner, J. F. ; Hirsh, T. Y. ; Losko, A. S.MLZ* ; Long, A. M. ; Loyd, M. ; Sykora, G. J. ; Vogel, S. C. ; Watkins, E. B. ; Wolfertz, A.MLZ*

2025
Springer Nature [London]

Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1038/s41598-025-99927-4

Abstract: Thermal neutron detection in neutron scattering science is a challenging endeavour due to a limited number of technologies which are sensitive to these weakly interacting particles. While many improvements to conventional detectors are underway at various facilities, there is a great opportunity to make a leap in performance by combining the spatial resolution benefits of imaging and the temporal resolution and background discrimination of event-driven radiation detectors. This idea has been realized by using a neutron sensitive scintillator read out by a single-photon sensitive camera based on a Timepix3 ASIC. We demonstrate how such data-driven imaging sensors can enable unprecedented performance in neutron reflectometry using the ASTERIX instrument at the Los Alamos Neutron Scattering Center. Several samples were measured with both the new and a conventional He detector systems. The results from this work demonstrate that these imaging based systems can satisfy performance parameters for the future QIKR reflectometer to be built at the Second Target Station at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Further improvements to the detector are already underway which will allow streamlined and expedited experiments. We demonstrate at least a two order of magnitude increase in detection rate at an acceptable dead time and introduce a new way of tuning the detector efficiency using light collecting optics to accommodate highly intense direct beams which cannot be measured with any current detectors without severe attenuation. This will allow measurements of complete reflectometry profiles and using a single sample measurement combined with fewer direct beam calibration measurements on QIKR and potentially other reflectometers.

Keyword(s): Instrument and Method Development (1st) ; Instrument and Method Development (2nd)

Note: Grants: Laboratory Directed Research and Development program of LANL under project number 20230592ER, BMBF in the framework of the research project 05K22WO5

---

Contributing Institute(s):

1. NECTAR (NECTAR)

Experiment(s):

1. Measurement at external facility

Appears in the scientific report 2025

---

Database coverage:
; ; Article Processing Charges ; BIOSIS Previews ; Biological Abstracts ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; DOAJ Seal ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; Fees ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection ; Zoological Record

---