Detection and imaging of electric fields, using polarized neutrons
| DWPI Title: Apparatus for measuring neutron spin precession in electric field for use in non-destructive testing and imaging field, has neutron source for generating neutron beam, where spin polarizer receives neutron beam and spins polarize neutron beam |
| Abstract: A method and corresponding apparatus are provided for measuring neutron spin precession in an electric field with high sensitivity suitable for practical applications in non-destructive testing, imaging, and the like. Production of a neutron beam with a polarization vector P is followed by transmitting the spin-polarized neutron beam through a sample region in which there is a target generating an electric field, polarization-analyzing the transmitted neutron beam with an analyzing direction orthogonal to P, detecting an intensity of the polarization-analyzed neutron beam; and mapping the detected neutron-beam intensity to a field-strength value for the target electric field. |
| Use: Apparatus for measuring neutron spin precession in electric field for use in non-destructive testing and imaging field. |
| Advantage: The apparatus has simple orthogonal polarimeter to produce useful results without additional neutron spin manipulation along beam path. |
| Novelty: The apparatus has a neutron source for generating neutron beam (220), where a spin polarizer (210) receives the neutron beam and spins polarize the neutron beam such that the neutron beam comprise polarization vector. A spin analyzer (260) realizes polarization-analysis of the neutron beam after the neutron beam interacts with target electric field, where analyzing direction of the spin analyzer is being orthogonal to polarization vector. A neutron detector (270) detects intensity of polarization-analyzed neutron beam and outputs corresponding detection signal. |
| Filed: 5/10/2022 |
| Application Number: US17740504A |
| Tech ID: SD 15130.1 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
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