SANS instrumental design considerations at CANS facilities

¹ Indiana University Center for Exploration of Energy and Matter, 2401 Milo B. Sampson Lane, Bloomington, IN 47408 USA.
² University of Missouri Research Reactor, 1513 Research Park Dr., Columbia, MO 65211 USA

Published online: 27 June 2024

Abstract

Small-Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) is a ubiquitous technique at neutron scattering facilities throughout the world, and they are particularly attractive instruments to consider for a CANS facility as they are relatively simple in design, do not require high resolution, and can facilitate research across a wide swath of science. On the other hand, CANS facilities employ a fundamentally different primary neutron source than earlier generations of neutron facilities, and such CANS facilities must often be built within a different set of constraints than is typically seen at a major reactor or spallation source. We discuss briefly how these considerations may lead to minor variations in the design optimization for a SANS instrument at a CANS facility from the typical descriptions available from other facilities using the design of the instrument at LENS as an example.