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research papers
It is now possible to build new types of optical elements for neutron beams. These include monochromating crystals with rectangular mosaic profiles, `gradient' monochromating crystals with varying lattice spacing, and collimators with rectangular profiles. Phase-space methods are used to describe the resolution of a combination of two collimators and a monochromating crystal for various combinations of novel beam elements. The description of rectangular-profile elements in this formalism considerably simplifies the normal description of resolution effects and should thus prove useful as a teaching tool.