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Experimental Approbation of Reference Layer Method in Resonant Neutron Reflectometry

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Abstract—The first application of resonant neutron scattering at Gd atoms for the experimental determination of the phase of the reflection coefficient in neutron reflectometry is presented in this paper. The surface of the sample studied was covered by the reference Gd layer, for which the scattering length of thermal neutrons is highly energy-dependent. After measuring the coefficient of specular reflection of neutrons at three different wavelengths of each impulse, we were able to resolve the phase problem of the neutron reflectometry and determine the absolute magnitude and phase of the complex reflection coefficient from an unknown part of sample structure.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The preparation of samples and X-ray measurements were performed in the Collaborative Access Center of the IMP UBRAS.

Funding

The work was carried out within the framework of the state assignment of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation under the theme “Spin” AAAA-A18-118020290104-2 and was partially supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (projects Nos. 18-32-00197 and 19-02-00674).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mikheev Institute of Metal Physics, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 620990, Ekaterinburg, Russia

    E. S. Nikova, Yu. A. Salamatov, E. A. Kravtsov, M. V. Makarova, V. V. Proglyado & V. V. Ustinov

  2. Ural Federal University Named after the First President of Russia B.N. Yeltsin, 620002, Ekaterinburg, Russia

    E. S. Nikova, E. A. Kravtsov, M. V. Makarova & V. V. Ustinov

  3. Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics, JINR, 141980, Dubna, Russia

    V. I. Bodnarchuk & A. V. Nagorny

  4. Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, 01601, Kyiv, Ukraine

    A. V. Nagorny

Authors
  1. E. S. Nikova
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  2. Yu. A. Salamatov
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  3. E. A. Kravtsov
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  4. M. V. Makarova
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  5. V. V. Proglyado
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  6. V. V. Ustinov
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  7. V. I. Bodnarchuk
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  8. A. V. Nagorny
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to E. S. Nikova.

Additional information

Translated by O. Golovnya

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Nikova, E.S., Salamatov, Y.A., Kravtsov, E.A. et al. Experimental Approbation of Reference Layer Method in Resonant Neutron Reflectometry. Phys. Metals Metallogr. 120, 838–843 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0031918X19090102

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0031918X19090102

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