Three-dimensional spatially resolved neutron diffraction from a disordered vortex lattice

The vortex matter in bulk type II superconductors serves as a prototype system for studying the random pinning problem in condensed matter physics. Since the vortex lattice is embedded in an atomic lattice, small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) is the only technique that allows for direct structural studies. In traditional SANS methods, the scattering intensity is a measure of the structure factor averaged over the entire sample. Recent studies in vortex physics have shown that it is highly desirable to develop a SANS technique that is capable of resolving the spatial inhomogeneities in the bulk vortex state. This article reports a novel slicing neutron diffraction technique using atypical collimation and an areal detector, which allows for observing the three-dimensional disorder of the vortex matter inside an as-grown Nb single crystal.