About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Neutron Scattering for Engineering Materials
|
| Presentation Title |
Development and Commissioning of an In Situ ³He Polarizer for Polarized Neutron Diffraction Studies at VULCAN |
| Author(s) |
Sichao Fu, Chenyang Jiang, Dunji Yu, Yan Chen, Lowell Crow, Ke An |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Sichao Fu |
| Abstract Scope |
An in situ ³He polarizer has been developed for the engineering materials diffractometer VULCAN at the Spallation Neutron Source, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, to enable concurrent investigations of deformation and magnetic dynamics under combined external fields. The polarizer employs spin-exchange optical pumping (SEOP) to polarize ³He gas in situ. The polarization level is monitored using free induction decay (FID) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and spin direction can be flipped via adiabatic fast passage (AFP) NMR. The system is compatible with various sample environments—including load frames, furnaces, and magnetic fields—allowing studies under mechanical, thermal, and magnetic stimuli, either individually or in combination. A commissioning experiment on a NiMnGa magnetic shape memory alloy, using a mini load frame and magnet yoke, demonstrated the polarizer’s capability. Polarized neutron diffraction measurements successfully captured magnetic domain evolution correlated with deformation-induced twinning. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |