Arrangement of Permanent Magnets for Generating a Guide Field for Polarized Neutrons and Their Use

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This invention is a specialized arrangement of permanent magnets for generating a uniform guiding magnetic field for polarized neutrons traveling through a neutron guide. By placing at least three, but preferably four or more, magnet strips along the length of the neutron guide and carefully setting their orientation and position, a consistent transverse magnetic field is created, which maintains the desired polarization of neutrons without the need for bulky coils, outside power supplies, or numerous additional components.

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• Facilities conducting neutron scattering experiments requiring precise control of neutron polarization, such as research reactors or spallation neutron sources.
• Neutron beamlines at scientific instruments, where guiding and preserving polarized neutron beams is critical.
• Compact, energy-efficient upgrades for existing neutron guides to allow for advanced polarization experiments.
• Development or retrofitting of neutron imaging or analysis tools that rely on polarized neutron beams.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Significantly reduces the required installation space around the neutron guide compared to traditional electromagnets or more complex magnet assemblies.
• No need for power supplies, as the guide field is generated by permanent magnets, resulting in substantial energy savings and low maintenance.
• Reduces the number of components and complexity, which can lower costs and simplify installation and maintenance.
• Eliminates the need for additional magnetic poles (pole pieces) and large structural materials.
• Provides high field homogeneity (adiabatic guiding field), which is better for maintaining neutron polarization quality over long distances.

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Patent Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement of permanent magnets for producing a guide field for polarized neutrons in a neutron guide, wherein at least three permanent magnet strips are arranged longitudinally on the neutron guide so as to be parallel to the direction of flight of the polarized neutrons, the at least three permanent magnet strips producing a transverse magnetic field representing the guide field for the polarized neutrons along the direction of flight of the polarized neutrons, the center of the face spanned by the position of the permanent magnet strips defining the origin of a Cartesian coordinate system, the xy-plane thereof being located on the cross section of the neutron guide, a straight line through the origin of the coordinate system and the center of the cross section of the permanent magnet strip including an angle Θ with the transverse guide field and the magnetic field of the permanent magnet strips including an angle of 2Θ with the transverse guide field.