Polarized neutron reflectometry of a patterned magnetic film with a 3He analyzer and a position-sensitive detector

We have employed a polarized He-3 spin filter in conjunction with a position-sensitive detector (PSD) to perform efficient polarization analysis of neutron diffuse reflectivity. This work was carried out on the NG-1 polarized neutron reflectometer at the National Institute of Standards and Technology Center for Neutron Research. We measured the specular and diffuse reflectivity of a patterned magnetic array that has periodic square holes in a Co film. Analysis of the data yielded spin-analyzed two-dimensional Q(x)-Q(z) reciprocal space maps for the sample in magnetized and demagnetized states. We compared the measurements obtained with a He-3 analyzer and a PSD with those obtained using a conventional supermirror analyzer and a He-3 proportional counter. The results are in good agreement. For this experiment, He-3 gas was polarized by the spin-exchange optical pumping method and stored in a uniform magnetic field provided by a shielded solenoid. Improved optical pumping using a spectrally narrowed diode laser array yielded an initial He-3 polarization of 70% in a He-3 cell volume of 280 cm(3). (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.