Neutron focusing optics for low-resolution small-angle scattering

Small-angle neutron scattering instruments use large source and sample areas with long flight paths to obtain the necessary resolution. Increased count rates may be obtained using collimators that converge to a point on the detector. Further increases may be obtained by converging guides in the form of a focusing lens. A low-resolution small-angle scattering instrument that uses converging capillary fibers as a focusing lens is proposed. Such a device requires the use of a detector that has a fine spatial resolution, perhaps less than 0.1 mm. Expressions are derived for the resolution and the intensity optimized for such an instrument. The relationship is determined between the guide dimensions, the focal length and the critical angle of the internal coating of the individual fiber channels. The critical angle of the focusing lens dominates the resolution, and such an instrument is useful only for low-resolution measurements. However, the greatly reduced length is only valuable if there is a high-resolution detector to match the dimensions of the guide. Despite its low resolution, such an instrument might eventually be useful for survey or characterization measurements.