Polarized neutron Laue diffraction on a crystal containing dynamically polarized proton spins
Journal article, 2013
A polarized neutron Laue diffraction experiment on a single crystal of
neodymium-doped lanthanum magnesium nitrate hydrate containing polarized
proton spins is reported. By using dynamic nuclear polarization to polarize the
proton spins, it is demonstrated that the intensities of the Bragg peaks can be
enhanced or diminished significantly, whilst the incoherent background, due to
proton spin disorder, is reduced. It follows that the method offers unique
possibilities to tune continuously the contrast of the Bragg reflections and
thereby represents a new tool for increasing substantially the signal-to-noise
ratio in neutron diffraction patterns of hydrogenous matter.
Author
F.M. Piegsa
Institut Laue-Langevin
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zürich (ETH)
Maths Karlsson
Chalmers, Applied Physics, Condensed Matter Physics
B. Van Den Brandt
Paul Scherrer Institut
C.J. Carlile
European Spallation Source (ESS)
E.M. Forgan
University of Birmingham
P. Hautle
Paul Scherrer Institut
J.A. Konter
Paul Scherrer Institut
G.J. McIntyre
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
Institut Laue-Langevin
O. Zimmer
Institut Laue-Langevin
Journal of Applied Crystallography
0021-8898 (ISSN) 1600-5767 (eISSN)
Vol. 46 1 30-34Subject Categories
Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics
Condensed Matter Physics
Areas of Advance
Materials Science
DOI
10.1107/S0021889812048376