Abstract

Diamond, with its exceptionally high optical nuclear potential and low absorption cross-section, is a unique material for a series of applications in VCN (very cold neutron) physics and techniques. In particular, powder of diamond nanoparticles provides the best reflector for neutrons in the complete VCN energy range. It allowed also the first observation of quasi-specular reflection of cold neutrons (CN) from disordered medium. Effective critical velocity for such a quasi-specular reflection is higher than that for the best super-mirror. Nano-diamonds survive in high radiation fluxes; therefore they could be used, under certain conditions, in the vicinity of intense neutron sources.

Details

Title
Application of Diamond Nanoparticles in Low-Energy Neutron Physics
Author
Nesvizhevsky, Valery; Cubitt, Robert; Lychagin, Egor; Muzychka, Alexei; Nekhaev, Grigory; Pignol, Guillaume; Protasov, Konstantin; Strelkov, Alexander
Pages
1768-1781
Publication year
2010
Publication date
2010
Publisher
MDPI AG
e-ISSN
19961944
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
1528943738
Copyright
Copyright MDPI AG 2010