Entangled neutrons for the study of mesoscopic structures

Project title: Entangled neutrons for the study of mesoscopic structures
Main applicant: Max Wolff, Division of Materials Physics
Co-applicant: Sebastian Jaksch, Division of Materials Physics and ESS
Grant amount: SEK 15 670 000 for the period 2026-2029

Neutron scattering underpins breakthroughs from quantum materials to sustainable engineering, yet a persistent limitation remains: imaging and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) probe different length scales, leaving a resolution gap that hinders truly multi-scale analysis. Bridging this gap would allow research to move seamlessly from micron to nanometre structures in a single experimental framework.

We propose to achieve this at ISIS and ESS by combining spin-echo modulated SANS (SEMSANS) and dark-field neutron imaging, which extends imaging down to ~20 μm, and raises SANS resolution up to the same scale, creating a true overlap. The proposed key components—Wollaston prisms and SEOP analyser—have already been demonstrated at neutron facilities.

To allow routine user access, we will:

1. Engineer a next-generation Wollaston prism prototype that eliminates current cooling, alignment, maintenance, and integration hurdles.
2. Validate the capability through three high-impact science cases: mapping flux lattices in intermediate mixed-state superconductors, characterising vesicles in model cell systems, and resolving hierarchical cellulose microstructures.

These cases represent diverse fields—condensed matter, soft matter, and biology—demonstrating the cross-disciplinary impact of closing this resolution gap. Funding this development will not only deliver a world-leading capability but also enable investigations that are currently beyond reach for users of ISIS and ESS.