Kirkpatrick–Baez microfocusing optics for thermal neutrons

摘要: Abstract Kirkpatrick–Baez neutron supermirrors can efficiently focus beams into small areas with a maximum divergence that is limited by the mirror critical angle. The size of focal spot primarily determined geometrical demagnification source and figure errors in shape. Ray-tracing calculations show high-performance preserve neutron-source brilliance when focusing down to tens microns approximately two orders magnitude greater power 100 μm than practical without focusing. predicted performance near theoretical limit set brilliance. We describe phase space arguments, ray-tracing actual an M3 supermirror system designed produce below 100 μm. Although current design optimized for polychromatic microdiffraction, principles are widely applicable range science.