Design challenges and performance of nested neutron mirrors for microfocusing on SNAP

Kirkpatrick–Baez (KB) neutron supermirrors can efficiently focus poly­chromatic neutron beams to micrometre dimensions. The ultimate size is determined mainly by the perfection of the mirrors and by the size of the beam needed to have sufficient experimental signal. Nested or Montel KB mirrors can collect ∼2.6 times more beam than standard sequential KB optics, but require good figure perfection at the edge of one mirror. This paper describes the characterization of the figure errors over the important reflective portions of the two mirrors needed for a Montel focusing pair. The measurements are placed in context with theoretical predictions and are used to predict mirror focusing performance. Strategies to improve on the focusing of this class of optics are suggested and early results from these mirrors installed on the Spallation Neutrons at Pressure (SNAP) Beamline 3 at the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) at Oak Ridge are presented.