Beamline Neutron and X‑ray Techniques

The HTS-110 Advantage: Core Technology Benefits

• Truly Cryogen-Free Operation: Eliminates dependence on liquid helium, drastically reducing operational costs, logistical burdens (storage, handling, supply volatility), and infrastructure complexity. Enables deployment in diverse facility settings without dedicated cryogenic support.
• High Field Potential: HTS technology enables fields exceeding the limits of LTS magnets (e.g., 12 T neutron magnet at ILL), opening new frontiers for studying phenomena under extreme conditions. Emerging 2G HTS technology with even higher current density paves the way for future higher-field scattering magnets.
• Enhanced Stability: HTS materials offer greater thermal stability margins compared to LTS, leading to more robust and reliable operation with reduced susceptibility to training or premature quenching.

• Compactness & Low Mass: Higher HTS current densities allow for smaller, lighter magnets. This is critical for integration into space-constrained beamlines, enabling mounting on standard goniometers (e.g., 6-circle goniometer at BESSY) for sample and field rotation, and is especially important for magnets integrated directly into UHV chambers.
• Wide Beam Access: Intelligent designs, including split-pair configurations, incorporate large apertures (e.g., up to 180° horizontal, ±20° vertical, 150° horizontal for neutron systems) for incident and scattered beams, maximising experimental flexibility.
• Versatile Orientation: Rigid support structures allow reliable operation in any orientation (vertical, horizontal, or intermediate field directions), facilitating integration with diverse beamline setups.
• VTI Integration: Designed for straightforward compatibility with standard Variable Temperature Inserts (VTIs), allowing combined studies across wide ranges of temperature (e.g., 4 K to >600 K with ANSTO 5T magnet) and magnetic field.

HTS-110’s cryogen-free magnets enhance a wide range of neutron scattering experiments by providing precisely controlled magnetic field environments. Our magnets are versatile and support multiple techniques:

Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS)

Probes nanoscale magnetic structures, domain sizes, and flux lattices. Examples:

• 5 T Horizontal Magnet (ANSTO),
• 3 T Horizontal PNS Magnet (Juelich, ISIS, ILL),
• 3 T Vertical Magnet (NIST),
• 3 T Magnet (JRR-3),
• 2.5 T Magnet (TUM),
• 2.2 T Asymmetric Magnet (ESS).

Polarised Neutron Reflectometry (PNR) & Scattering (PNS), Neutron Reflectometry

Investigates magnetic layering, spin structures, and field-dependent effects in thin films, multilayers, and layered structures, critical for spintronics. HTS-110’s specialised magnets offer stable, tunable fields with minimised stray fields essential for maintaining neutron polarisation (validated ~98.5% spin transport efficiency at MLZ). Examples:

• 5 T Horizontal Magnet (ANSTO),
• 3 T Horizontal PNS Magnet (Juelich, ISIS, ILL),
• 3 T Vertical Magnet (NIST),
• 2.2 T POLI Magnet (MLZ),
• 2.2 T Asymmetric Magnet (ESS),
• 3 T Magnet (JRR-3),
• 12 T Asymmetric Split-Pair Magnet (ILL).

Neutron Diffraction

Analyses atomic and magnetic crystal structures. HTS magnets provide the high fields needed to study field-induced magnetic phases, align magnetic moments, or perform experiments on instruments like POLI at MLZ. Examples:

• 2.2 T POLI Magnet (MLZ),
• 12 T Asymmetric Split-Pair Magnet (ILL),
• 2.5 T Magnet (TUM),
• 2.2 T Asymmetric Magnet (ESS).

Three-Axis Spectroscopy (TAS) & Time of Flight (TOF) Spectroscopy

Characterises dynamic processes and excitations (e.g., magnons). Consistent, stable fields provided by HTS magnets improve data quality for accurate energy measurements. Examples:

• 12 T Asymmetric Split-Pair Magnet (ILL),
• 2.5 T Magnet (TUM),
• 3 T Magnet (JRR-3).

HTS-110 magnets are widely integrated into synchrotron X-ray experiments, enabling cutting-edge materials research:

High-Resolution Diffraction

Enables detailed analysis of crystal structure and magnetic ordering under applied fields. HTS-110 provides highly compact magnets designed to fit within standard Eulerian cradles, maximising experimental flexibility. Examples:

• >6 T / 5 T Rotatable Magnets (BESSY),
• 6 T Magnet (LNLS XDS beamline).

Resonant & Non-Resonant Magnetic Scattering (incl. RSXS)

Probes magnetic structures, orbital ordering, and complex phenomena. Requires stable fields and precise orientation control, often achieved with goniometer-mounted HTS magnets or magnets integrated into UHV chambers. Examples:

• 2 T UHV Magnet (ALBA, rotatable),
• 2.5 T Magnet (BNL),
• 2 T Magnet (ANL),
• 0.8 T UHV Magnet (BESSY/PAL),
• >6 T / 5 T Rotatable Magnets (BESSY).

X-ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism (XMCD)

An element-specific probe of magnetic moments, vital for understanding magnetism in complex materials. HTS-110 delivers specialised magnets, including compact UHV-compatible systems and fast-ramping options, enabling rapid field reversals for high-throughput measurements. Examples:

• 2.2 T UHV Magnet (NUS-SSLS),
• 2 T UHV Magnet (ALBA),
• 0.8 T UHV Magnet (BESSY/PAL).

Other Techniques (XAS, PES, NEXAFX)

Systems also support X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS)/Imaging and Photo-Emission Spectroscopy (PES)/NEXAFX, often requiring demanding UHV compatibility and specific access geometries. Examples:

• 8.6 T Photo-Emission/NEXAFX Magnet (NIST/BNL, UHV Compatible).

The performance and integration of HTS-110 beamline magnets are documented in various technical papers, conference proceedings, and facility reports. Key examples include:

• MLZ’s POLI Instrument: Precision polarized neutron studies.
  “Polarized neutron diffraction using a novel high-Tc…”
• MLZ SANS Magnet: A versatile 3T ‘workhorse’ for multiple SANS beamlines.
  Information in “MLZ News,” 2018 & facility reports
• International Neutron Facilities (ANSTO, ISIS): Tailored HTS magnets, including 5T systems and low-fringe-field designs.
  “HTS 5 Tesla Synchrotron and Neutron Beamline Magnets”

• ALBA’s BOREAS Beamline: Rotatable UHV magnet for resonant scattering.
  “Integrating UHV…and HTS…magnets for x-ray synchrotron…”
• Singapore Synchrotron Light Source (SSLS): Dedicated XMCD magnet.
  “A Commercial HTS Dipole Magnet for…XMCD…Experiments”
• Brazil’s LNLS: High-field (>6T) X-ray diffraction & spectroscopy magnet.
  Experiment research is on LNLS XDS beamline pages
• BESSY’s MAGS Instrument: Pioneering 5T synchrotron magnet.
  “HTS 5 Tesla Synchrotron and Neutron Beamline Magnets”
• X-Ray Scattering Environments: Compact rotating in-plane magnets.
  “Compact Rotating In-Plane HTS Magnet…”

Explore facility reports, conference proceedings, and academic search engines for more on these projects and other HTS-110 magnet applications.