KWS-3 'VerySANS': Applications

From nano meter to micro meter

KWS-3, which is operated by JCNS, Forschungszentrum Jülich at Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ) in Garching, is a very high resolution small angle neutron scattering (VSANS) instrument running on the focussing mirror principle.[1] KWS-3 is designed to bridge the gap between Bonse-Hart and pinhole cameras. Owing to its extended Q range, optimized flux, and good wavelength resolution, KWS-3 has shown good performance and has become scientifically productive to the user community. The instrument’s standard configuration with a 9.5 m sample-to-detector distance (SD) allows performing scattering experiments with Q range between 4.0·10^-5 and 2.5·10^-3 Å^-1. A second sample position at 1.3 m SD reaches the Q-range to 1.5·10^-3-2·10^-2 Å^-1 and can overlap with the classical pinhole SANS instruments (KWS1/2). In current state, KWS-3 can be used for the analysis of structures between 30 nm and 20 μm for numerous materials from physics, chemistry, materials science and life science, such as alloys, diluted chemical solutions, magnetic materials and membrane systems. VSANS provides a new way to solve a broad range of scientific problems such as [2-9]:

• Aggregation in colloidal dispersions
• Clustering of Proteins
• Self-assembling of polymers
• Hierarchical structures of biominerals
• Hydrogels and aerogels
• Membrane systems
• Rheology and Structure/morphology of complex fluids
• Morphology of vortex lattice domains
• Surface and interface Structure
• Porous structure & gas storage in rocks
• In-situ study of solid phase transition/crystalization at high temperature
• Neutron Polarization & Pol. Analysis
• Morphology of vortex lattice domains|

KWS-3 @ MLZ Annual Reports: User's Highlights