A sapphire cell for neutron scattering at elevated pressures

A pressure cell for cold neutron scattering from liquid solutions at elevated pressures is described. The scattering cell is constructed entirely of sapphire in order to transmit neutrons that scatter at angles as large as 29 degrees while being optically transparent. The cell has been hydrostatically tested to 330 bar. In addition, it is surrounded by an aluminum jacket that permits heating and cooling of the sample to within +/-0.05 degrees C of the setpoint from 25 to 35 degrees C, as measured by an in situ platinum RTD. This cell has been successfully used for scattering from surfactant/D2O/CO2 mixtures at pressures up to 90.7 bar. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.