The application of the neutron time-of-flight technique for real-time diffraction studies

Real-time neutron powder diffraction and small-angle scattering techniques have been developed on the TOF diffractometer DN-2 at the IBR-2 pulsed reactor at JINR (Dubna) with a total flux on the sample of 10⁷ neutrons cm^-2 s^-1 and a resolution of about 1%. A special arrangement of the detector system ensures a high counting rate of diffracted neutrons. Depending upon sample type and experimental conditions, the measuring time t_s of one neutron pattern varies from a few minutes to several seconds. The performance of the diffractometer is discussed and typical data are shown to demonstrate current achievements using real-time techniques at a pulsed reactor.