Analysis of time-of-flight small-angle neutron scattering data on mesoscopic crystals such as magnetic vortex lattices1

Bragg diffracted intensities and q values for crystalline structures with long repeat distances may be obtained by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) investigations. An account is given of the methods, advantages and disadvantages of obtaining such data by the multichromatic time-of-flight method, compared with the more traditional quasi-monochromatic SANS method. This is illustrated with data obtained from high-magnetic-field measurements on magnetic vortex line lattices in superconductors on the former HFM/EXED instrument at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin. The methods have application to other mesoscopic crystalline structures investigated by SANS instruments at pulsed sources.

Automated summary

This article introduces the methods, advantages, and disadvantages of using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) to obtain Bragg diffracted intensities and q values for crystalline structures. A comparison is made between the multichromatic time-of-flight method and the traditional quasi-monochromatic SANS method. Experimental data from high-magnetic-field measurements on magnetic vortex line lattices in superconductors are presented, demonstrating the application of these methods. The article also notes that these methods can be applied to the study of other mesoscopic crystalline structures using SANS instruments at pulsed sources.