Monte Carlo modelling of a diffractometer using statistical time modulation to exploit the long pulse structure at the ICONE HiCANS

IRAMIS/Laboratoire Léon Brillouin CEA-CNRS, Univ. Paris-Saclay, France

^* Corresponding author: frederic.ott@cea.fr

Published online: 27 June 2024

Abstract

Low energy accelerator-driven neutron sources are intrinsically limited by the peak flux they can provide. A possible way to increase the total brilliance of the source is to increase the neutron pulse length. However, the efficient use of time-of-flight techniques on long pulse sources is non trivial. ESS is building long instruments (up to 150 m) to be able to fully exploit the long pulse structure. Such a solution cannot be reasonably implemented on CANS or HiCANS, essentially for cost reasons. We are thus investigating the possibilities of implementing statistical time modulation on a diffraction instrument to be able to use very long pulse structures. We present Monte-Carlo (MC) simulations using statistical time modulation and propose the design of a powder diffractometer, which could be installed on the long pulse target station of the ICONE HiCANS source. These MC simulations allow anticipating the difficulties which would be encountered if such an instrument would be built.