Browsing by Author "Huang, TY"

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    Developments on the platypus neutron reflectometer
    (Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering (AINSE), 2020-11-11) Nelson, A; Le Brun, AP; Huang, TY; Paul, O; Holt, SA
    PLATYPUS is the initial neutron reflectometer at the Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering with the capability to study surface and interface systems ranging from biomolecules, soft matter through to magnetic thin films [1-3]. There have been a number of significant improvements to both the instrument and data reduction and treatment software [4] over the last two years. On the hardware front the original detector has been replaced yielding higher count-rate capabilities, greater detection efficiency at shorter wavelengths and significantly lower background. The slits which define the neutron beam have been replaced with upgraded positioning mechanisms enabling greater flexibility in experimental setup. These changes have significantly enhanced the instrument performance with improved reproducibility. This presentation will highlight the enhancements and recent publications.
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    Hot commissioning and first user experiments on the Spatz neutron reflectometer
    (Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, 2021-11-26) Le Brun, AP; Huang, TY; Pullen, SA; Nelson, A; Holt, SA
    The Spatz neutron beam instrument is the latest to be installed and commissioned in the Neutron Guide Hall at the 20 MW OPAL Research Reactor. Spatz is a time-of-flight neutron reflectometer used for studying nanoscale structures at surfaces and interfaces and utilises a vertical sample geometry / horizontal scattering geometry. The instrument is situated at the end position of the CG2B neutron guide and views the cold neutron source (CNS). The disc chopper cascade that pulses the neutron beam to produce the time-of-flight is very configurable to provide a wavelength resolution between 1 to 12 %. The detector is a helium-3 two dimensional detector that is capable of measuring both specular and off-specular reflectivity. The sample stage can support a range of different sample environments including multiple solid-liquid cells, an atmospheric chamber with temperature control, the ATR-FT-IR spectrometer for simultaneous infra-red spectroscopy and neutron reflectometry measurements, electrochemical cells, etc. The geometry of the instrument and the sample environment available means that Spatz is well suited to studying phenomena at the gas-solid interface and solid-liquid interface. The Spatz instrument has been fully commissioned with neutrons and the results of the commissioning are presented. This includes measurements using the ‘Bragg mirror’ consisting of 25 bilayers of nickel and titanium, different solid substrates of silicon, quartz and sapphire, spin-coated polymer samples, and films under liquid. Reflectivity down to 10-7 can be achieved within 1 hour measuring time with good counting statistics in most cases. Early user experiments cover a range of science including investigating the thermal stability of organic solar cell materials and proteins interacting with biomimetic phospholipid cell membranes. © 2021 The Authors
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    Progress with hot commissioning and first user experiments on the SPATZ neutron reflectometer
    (Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering (AINSE), 2020-11-11) Le Brun, AP; Huang, TY; Nelson, A; Holt, SA
    The SPATZ neutron reflectometer was originally the V18 BioRef reflectometer at the BER-II Research Reactor (Berlin, Germany) [1, 2], and was transferred from HZB to ANSTO ownership during October 2016 to February 2017. The reflectometer was re-installed at ANSTO’s 20 MW OPAL Research Reactor in the Neutron Guide Hall on the end position of the newly installed CG2B cold-neutron guide. The hot commissioning licence was issued in October 2018 with first neutrons in November 2018. Radiation surveys and shielding improvements were completed in May 2019. Since this time, hot commissioning has continued and has involved evaluating the performance of the instrument. SPATZ is a time-of-flight instrument, and the ability to translate chopper 2 makes the instrument highly configurable with the ability to select a time resolution from 1 to 12 %. A number of different sample environments have been tested including: solid-liquid cells with a HPLC pump for solvent contrast exchange, circulating water baths for temperature control, and the infrared spectrometer for simultaneous neutron reflectometry and ATR-FT-IR spectroscopy. The operating license was issued in December 2019, and first experiments are scheduled for the last quarter of 2020. SPATZ is now available for user proposals in the ACNS portal [3]. This presentation will highlight the instrument performance and achievements during hot commissioning and give an overview of the user program to date and first data collected.