A new method for improving polarizing neutron coatings

Nanolayers with a negative neutron potential at the interfaces of magnetic and nonmagnetic layers in neutron coatings may suppress reflection of neutrons with undesired spin direction by one or even two orders of magnitude [N.K. Pleshanov, Nucl. Instr. and Meth. A 613 (2010) 15]. Thus, nanotechnology opens the possibility to build neutron optical polarizers and analyzers of new generation. New experiments with CoFe/Ti/TiZr/Ti (m=2.5) supermirrors verify the high potential of the method for improving polarizing neutron coatings. Superpolarizing coatings not only will improve the performance and thus widen the range of applications of the polarizing devices but may also be the basis for designing novel neutron instrumentation. The use of transmission polarizers on the basis of a ferromagnetic film and a substrate transparent for neutrons is suggested for precise measurements of beam polarization, flipper efficiencies and contributions of NSF and SF scattering into the portion of neutrons reflected with the undesired spin from the polarizing coating.