An evaluation of grazing-incidence optics for neutron imaging

The focusing capabilities of neutron imaging optics based on the Wolter-1 geometry have been successfully demonstrated with a beam of long wavelength neutrons with low angular divergence. A test mirror was fabricated using an electroformed nickel replication process at Marshall Space Flight Center. The neutron current density gain at the focal spot of the mirror is found to be at least 8 for neutron wavelengths in the range from 6 to 20 Å. Possible applications of the optics are briefly discussed.