A case study for using neutron backscattering instruments at reactors in inverted time-of-flight mode

The accessible energy transfer range of reactor-based neutron backscattering spectrometers can be extended significantly by combining the standard mode of operation with a time-of-flight (TOF) mode. Monte-Carlo simulation of the TOF-mode are presented and the simulated performance is compared to similar (existing) neutron scattering instruments. The proposed TOF-mode extension of a neutron backscattering spectrometer is competitive and a cost-efficient way to increase the energy transfer range 7-fold, with relaxed resolution and keeping the momentum transfer range.