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OrientExpress

An automatic Laue neutron-diffractometer based upon two high-performance image-intensified CCD cameras coupled to a large-area neutron scintillator. It allows electronic capture of neutron Laue diffraction patterns in a very short time (few seconds). A gain of about 100 in efficiency is obtained compared to the conventional film method with comparable spatial resolution.

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Applications

OrientExpress is fast and very easy to use.

  • rapid sample characterisation and quality assessment
  • rapid sample orientation
  • sample transfer from the instrument to a sample holder
  • quantitative structure refinement

Examples

Crystal alignment

OrientExpress is a valuable tool for the rapid alignement of crystals relative one to the others. Here, the sample for an inelastic experiment on IN5 was made of two crystals of SrCrO3. The patterns below allowed for an accuracy of the relative aligment less than 0.5 degree.

Final neutron Laue patterns from the two crystals

OrientExpress is fast!

While OrientExpress is located at a low flux position behind other machines on a long neutron guide, it is still so fast that diffraction patterns that previously took minutes with photographic film can now be obtained in seconds.

Diffraction pattern from a small ruby crystal obtained on OrientExpress in 10 s, instead of 10 min with film.