Neutron Optics
Professor
- HINO, Masahiro e-mail: e-mail:hino.masahiro.2x<atmark>kyoto-u.ac.jp
Assistant Professors
- NAKAMURA, Hidehito e-mail: e-mail:nakamura.hidehito.3x<atmark>kyoto-u.ac.jp
- HIGUCHI, Takashi e-mail:higuchi.takashi.8k<atmark>kyoto-u.ac.jp
(concurrent)
* replace <atmark> with @rri.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Slow neutrons are very powerful and useful in various research fields, such as material and life sciences, particle physics, fundamental engineering. It is necessary for production of neutron beam to use any nuclear reaction and it requires, in general, large facility to obtain high intensity of the neutron beam. More effective neutron intensity is still desired even in advanced large facility. Neutrons are electrically neutral and it is very difficult to control (bent). It is quite important for transportation and shaping of neutron beam from the source to the experimental instrument. We are developing various neutron optical devices, in particular high performance neutron multilayer mirrors, to control slow neutrons and analyze neutron spin precisely.
Kyoto University and the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) are jointly installing neutron resonance spin echo spectrometers at BL06 at J-PARC MLF. We named the spectrometers “VIN ROSE” (VIllage of Neutron ResOnance Spin Echo spectrometers), which will spawn a new field of spectroscopic methods to investigate the slow dynamics of nanostructures in various materials. All neutron mirrors were fabricated and tested in our laboratory.
Neutrons have strong penetrating characteristics and it is powerful tool to investigate the behaviors of water in various interesting materials, such as advanced industrial parts, concrete, moisture changes in plants, archeological samples. We are exploring the new fields of neutron imaging (radiography) with advanced neutron optics and phase control. We are making effort to use of these knowledge to realize a new research reactor under construction at the “Monju” site in fukui Prefecture.
We are also developing various luminescent plastics reactive to ultraviolet rays and radiation for promoting the development of inexpensive and highly sensitive radiation detectors.
Fig.1 Photographs of the ellipsoidal focusing neutron supermirrors. |
Fig.2 Photographs of the VIN ROSE at BL06 at J-PARC MLF. |