Wolter mirror microscope : novel neutron focussing and imaging optic

In this thesis, I investigated the effectiveness of a Wolter Type I neutron microscope as a focusing and imaging device for thermal and cold neutrons sources by simulating the performance of the optics in a standard neutron ray-tracing package. I used the simulation to optimize the Wolter mirror geometry for a particular case, deducing the primary constraints of the system on the delivery of maximal flux density to the focal spot and the advantages of nesting the mirrors. I explore the imaging aspects of the optics by simulating surface imperfections, such as figure errors and finish errors, and compare the resulting distortions in the focal spot to the no error case. I finally discuss the experimentation of real Wolter mirrors at the MIT Nuclear Reactor Laboratory and compare the tests to simulation predictions.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Physics.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2010

Author dc:creator

• Bagdasarova, Yelena S. (Yelena Sergeyevna)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• David E. Moncton and Boris Khaykovich.

• Physics.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/61202

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/61202