Solid state and conventional neutron optical elements

Neutron optical elements are needed to prepare neutron beams with the phase space volume required for an experiment. In the last years solid state neutron optical devices have been developed in Berlin, especially polarizers and collimators where the neutrons move in channels formed by thin silicon wafers. Such devices are smaller and lighter than their conventional counterparts, have well-defined channels and their lengths are below 10cm. Solid state straight and radial benders for the spin polarization or analysis of neutrons and straight and radial collimators were built and tested at HMI. Their performance is compared to conventional benders and cavities. Finally, some general aspects of solid state elements are summarized. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.