Wide-q observation from 10−4 to 2.0 Å−1 using a focusing and polarized neutron small-angle scattering spectrometer, SANS-J-II

In order to extend an upper q-limit [q is the magnitude of the scattering vector q, defined by q = (4π/λ)sinθ, where λ and 2θ are the wavelength and the scattering angle, respectively], high-angle 3He sub-detectors were installed on a focusing and polarized neutron small-angle scattering spectrometer (SANS-J-II) at JRR-3, Tokai, Japan. Consequently, the upper q-limit was improved from 0.2 to 2.0 A−1. To quantitatively discriminate spin incoherent scattering from hydrogen or to perform nuclear spin polarization contrast variation, a remanent supermirror analyser is also available on the high-angle sub-detector. By combining a focusing ultra-small-angle scattering, realised by compound and/or magnetic lens and high-resolution area detector, SANS-J-II is able to cover from 3 × 10−4 to 2.0 A−1 (four orders of magnitude of q), which benefits investigation of hierarchically ordered systems, found widely in hard, soft and bio-materials.