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Large dynamic range small-angle diffractometer D22

Small-angle scattering is a technique that measures the deviation to small angles (much less than one degree to several degrees) of an X-ray or neutron beam due to structures of small size in the sample. “Small” means dimensions of a few tenths to about 100 nanometres, such as clusters in alloys, polymers, or biological macromolecules.

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Applications

In general, small-angle neutron scattering allows one to study nanoscaled materials, taking advantage of the sensitivity of neutrons towards isotopes and spin direction.

Polymers and colloids, e.g.

  • Micelles
  • Dendrimers
  • Liquid crystals
  • Gels
  • Reaction kinetics of mixed systems

Materials Science

  • Phase separation in alloys and glasses
  • Morphologies of superalloys
  • Microporosity in ceramics
  • Interfaces and surfaces of catalysts

Biological macromolecules

  • Size and shape of proteins, nucleic acids and of macromolecular complexes
  • Biomembranes
  • Drug vectors

Magnetism

  • Magnetic correlations
  • Flux line lattices in superconductors

Selected examples

A major part of new experiments on D22 has been dealing with time-resolved studies of different systems, such as the interaction of charged lipid vesicles with DNA of well-defined length1, the formation of oil droplets after a temperature quench2, or the change of size of anethol droplets in a model "Pastis" emulsion after mixing with water (D2O)3.

 

The high flux of D22 allows one to observe very weak scattering, e.g. of magnetic origin. A recent experiment revealed the anisotropic double-gap behaviour in MgB2, a type II superconductor4.

 


1. Barreleiro, P.C.A., May, R.P., and Lindman, B. (2002) Faraday Disc.122, 191-201).
2. Egelhaaf, S., U. Olsson, U., Schurtenberger, P., Morris, J., and Wennerstršm, H. (1999) Phys. Rev. E 60, 5681-5684.
3. Grillo, I (2003) Colloids and Surfaces A, in press.
4. Cubitt, R., Levett, S., Bud'ko, S.L., Anderson, N.E., and Canfield, P.C. (2003) Phys. Rev. Lett 90.

 

 

 

 

 

Small-Angle Diffraction from the vortex lattice in superconducting YNi2B2C. The usual hexagonal vortex lattice is distorted and split into two rhombic domains due to underlying electronic (Fermi surface) anisotropy.

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