Adaptation of triple axis neutron spectrometer for SANS measurements using alumina samples at TRIGA reactor of Bangladesh

Double crystal method known as Bonse and Hart's technique has been employed to develop small angle neutron scattering (SANS) facility on a triple axis neutron spectrometer at TRIGA Mark 11 (3 MW) research reactor of Atomic Energy Research Establishment (AERE), Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Two Si(111) crystals with very small mosaic spread similar to 1 min have been used for this purpose. At an incident neutron wavelength of 1.24 angstrom, this device is useful for SANS in the Q range between 1.6 x 10(-3) and 10(-1) k(-1). This Q range allows investigating particle sizes and interparticle correlations on a length scale of similar to 200 angstrom Results of SANS experiments on three alumina (Al2O3) samples as performed using above setup are presented. It is seen that Al2O3 particles, indeed, scatter neutrons in regions of small angles. It is also seen that scattering is different for different samples showing that it changes with a change in particle size. (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier B.V.