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guides


neutron guide super-unit - monolith #1



neutron guide super-unit - monolith #2


guide super-units – NIST monoliths

For the extension of their guide system the NCNR at the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, USA, required complex neutron guide assemblies for the initial section, close to the moderator. As usual, there the guides are very close to each other and NIST required large monolithic guide assemblies (super-units) for the best performance of the guides in this section. The super-units comprise several single guides with individual properties to transport the desired phase space. The neutronic design of the monoliths includes curved and elliptically tapered guides utilizing supermirror coatings on super-polished Borkron glass with appropriate m-values (up to m = 3.9).

In 2009 SwissNeutronics manufactured the three monoliths with a length of 1.5 m each. In a first step the individual units were assembled to the regularly high precision. After that the individual guide units were joined to form the monoliths. Careful alignment with dedicated equipment and assistance by the laser tracker enabled a highly accurate positioning of the guide units with respect to each other. The typical accuracy was ±0.02mm.

  • type: guide super-units (various individual guides in a monolithic design)
  • path/profile: hor. curved, vert. & hor. elliptic tapering (polygonal approx.)
  • cross-sections: NG-A 50 × 120mm˛, NG-B-top 50 × 50mm˛, NG-B-bottom 50 × 50mm˛, NG-C 55.87 × 157.50mm˛ (elliptic), NG-D 30 × 120mm˛ (elliptic)
  • length: 1.5m (each monolith)
  • coating: Ni/Ti, m = 1 → 3.9
  • substrate: super-polished N-ZK7 (Borkron)
  • high precision of relative position of sub-beams ≈ 0.02mm

A more comprehensive report about these projects can be found in our Newsletter from Oct-2009.

large neutron guide system – KAERI, HANARO


guide splitter unit


For the initial equipment of the new HANARO neutron guide system about 180 m of guides were manufactured by SwissNeutronics in 2007-2009. The guides start at the in-pile section with a complex super-unit comprising five individual guides. Out-of-pile the guides continue into the new neutron guide hall. Two of them branch into two sub-beams each. All guides are coated with supermirror m = 2 with an average reflectivity of R = 94% (measured on about 900 single substrates). The guides were delivered in various batches according the planning by KAERI, all in due time.

  • type: regular neutron guides
  • path/profile: hor. curved incl. guide splitter (polygonal approx.)
  • cross-sections: CG1 20 × 150mm˛, CG2a 50 × 50mm˛, CG2b 50 × 95mm˛, CG3 30 × 150mm˛, CG4a 50 × 50mm˛, CG4b 50 × 95mm˛, CG5 50 × 150mm˛
  • length: ≈180m
  • coating: Ni/Ti, m = 2
  • substrate: float glass, super-polished N-ZK7 (Borkron), Borofloat

Additional reports about the HANARO project are available in our Newsletters from Dec-2008 and Oct-2009.

regular supermirror guide – SuperHRPD @ JPARC


80m supermirror guide


The SuperHRPD @ JPARC utilizes a long supermirror guide to achieve a high resolution for the experiments. In 2007 SwissNeutronics produced 80 m neutron guides for this beamline including mechanical equipment (vacuum casings, alignment provisions). The guide is completely coated with supermirror of m = 3. The reflectivity of every deposition run was tested showing an average of about 88% at the critical edge. The installation was successfully performed early 2008.

  • type: regular neutron guides
  • path/profile: hor. curved (polygonal approx.) + straight guide
  • cross-sections: 25 × 75mm˛ (curved section), 25 × 75mm˛ (curved section)
  • length: ≈80m
  • coating: Ni/Ti, m = 3
  • substrate: float glass, Borofloat

Additional reports about the SuperHRPD project are available in our Newsletter Aug-2008.

guide switch - H17, ILL


ILL H17/H171/H172


In 2006/2007, SwissNeutronics manufactured the H17/H171/H172 neutron guide for the Institute Laue-Langevin. It starts as a two channel guide switch (cross-sections: constant 80mm x 80mm and tapered 25mm x 80 mm) with guide paths curved in horizontal and vertical directions. The substrate material is N-ZK7 with supermirror coatings from m = 1.5 to 3. Several features are machined into the glass to accommodate the ILL clip system, external alignment mirrors, front face protection masks, etc.

  • type: vertical guide switch
  • path/profile: hor. & vert. curved (polygonal approx.), lower beamline divergent
  • cross-section: 80 × 80mm˛, 80 × 24mm˛ → 80 × 30mm˛
  • length: 13.5m, 28m
  • coating: Ni/Ti, m = 1.5 → 3
  • substrate: N-ZK7 (Borkron)
  • high precision of relative position of sub-beams ≈ 0.01mm
  • various features machined in glass to accommodate ILL clip system, protection masks at dedicated locations

polarizing neutron guide-i-NSE JRR-3M

In 2004, SwissNeutronics supplied a 6 m long polarizing neutron guide to JRR-3M. The spin selective coatings are FeCoV/TiN supermirror with m = 2.5. The glass guide represents also the vacuum boundary and is enveloped by a magnetic cage, providing the guide field. The magnetic cage and the suspending mechanics were delivered by SwissNeutronics.

i-NSE JRR-3M

i-NSE JRR-3M


i-NSE JRR-3M

i-NSE JRR-3M


  • type: polarizing neutron guide
  • path/profile: curved (polygonal approx.)
  • cross-section: 20 × 40mm˛
  • length: 6m
  • coating: FeCoV/TiN, m = 2.5
  • substrate: Borofloat
  • magnetic guide field ≈ 60G

elliptic neutron guide - HRPD, ISIS

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In 2007 the High Resolution Powder Diffractometer at ISIS replaced its old guide by a new advanced guide with elliptic profile. The profile and the variation of the supermirror coating along the guide were developed for best neutron transport considering intensity and instrumental resolution. SwissNeutronics delivered and installed the 90m long guide.

ISIS HRPD guides

ISIS HRPD guides


ISIS HRPD guide details

ISIS HRPD guide details


  • type: elliptic neutron guide
  • path/profile: elliptic, curved (polygonal approx.)
  • cross-section: 25 × 80mm˛ @ entrance → 60 × 120mm˛ @ max. → 20 × 40mm˛ @ exit
  • length: 90m
  • coating: Ni/Ti m = 1.5 → 3
  • substrate: float glass, Borofloat

HRPD guide installed

HRPD @ ISIS

HRPD @ ISIS


HRPD @ ISIS

HRPD @ ISIS


beam bender - BL04 a & b reflectometers, SNS

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The beamlines BL04 a and b at SNS accommodate reflectometers dedicated for the investigation of magnetic and liquid samples, respectively. Both beamlines use beam benders to avoid the direct sight from the sample into the moderator, thus suppressing undesired fast neutrons and gamma radiation at the sample. This is achieved within a relatively short distance without compromising the transport of short wavelengths by subdividing the beam into several channels and supermirror of m = 3.6 at the concave sides. The guides are installed in massive, tight steel jackets to efficiently avoid streaming of undesired background from the moderator.

BL04 a&b

BL04 a&b


BL04 a&b in casing

BL04 a&b in casing


  • type: multi-channel beam bender – 4, 5 channels respectively
  • path/profile: curved (polygonal approx.)
  • cross-section: magnetics refl. 80 × 50mm˛, liquids refl. 90 × 45mm˛
  • length: 16m, 12m
  • coating: Ni/Ti m = 2, 3.6
  • substrate: float glass, Borofloat
  • installation in massive, tight steel jackets