SBIR-STTR Award

This project is devoted to development of a manufacturing technique of slow neutron Germanium mosaic monochromators with reflectivity exceeding reflectivity of pyrolytic graphite crystals. The manufacturing technique utilizes optimized high temperature plastic deformation of large single Germanium crystals to produce mosaic monochromators. Preliminary test on 70 mm diameter Ge samples with 111 orientation and mosaicity value 16 arc minutes demonstrated maximum neutron reflectivity 89% in the peak of a smooth rocking curve.

Mosaic crystalline monochromators define performance of neutron scattering devices employed in condensed matter research on research nuclear reactors. This project is devoted to development of a manufacturing technique for slow neutron Germanium mosaic monochromators with reflectivity exceeding reflectivity of pyrolytic graphite crystals. Germanium has small slow neutron absorption; its diamond crystal structure has a many more crystallographic orientations useful for neutron and x-ray scattering than pyrolytic graphite and for many orientations second orders of reflections in Germanium are prohibited. The proposed manufacturing technique utilizes optimized high temperature plastic deformation of large single Germanium crystals to produce mosaic monochromators.