Imaging with polarized neutrons

Dawson, M; Manke, I; Kardjilov, N; Hilger, A; Strobl, M; Banhart, J

Abstract

Neutrons have zero net electrical charge and can thus penetrate
deeply into matter, but their intrinsic magnetic moment makes them highly
sensitive to magnetic fields. These properties have been combined with
radiographic (2D) and tomographic (3D) imaging methods to provide a unique
technique to probe macroscopic magnetic phenomena both within and around
bulk matter. Based on the spin-rotation of a polarized neutron beam as it passes
through a magnetic field, this method allows the direct, real-space visualization
of magnetic field distributions. It has been used to investigate the Meissner
effect in a type I (Pb) and a type II (YBCO) superconductor, flux trapping in
a type I (Pb) superconductor, and the electromagnetic field associated with a
direct current flowing in a solenoid. The latter results have been compared to
predictions calculated using the Biot–Savart law and have been found to agree
well.

Citation

Dawson, M., Manke, I., Kardjilov, N., Hilger, A., Strobl, M., & Banhart, J. (2009). Imaging with polarized neutrons. New Journal of Physics, 11(4), 043013. https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/11/4/043013

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2009
• Deposit Date: Sep 11, 2014
• Journal: New Journal of Physics
• Publisher: IOP Publishing
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 043013
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/11/4/043013
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/11/4/043013