Polarizing supermirror microbender on quartz

Quartz supermirror polarizing microbender for cold, thermal and hot neutron s has been proposed on the basis of polarizing supermirror on a quartz subs trate which is transparent for neutrons and light. Its properties are discu ssed. The main advantages of the device on quartz (SiO2) substrate compared with the silicon (Si) one are (i) smaller neutron absorption (about 2 time s), (ii) better technological merits and plasticity, (iii) transparency for light (so it is possible to adjust the device with the use of a laser). Th e thickness of the quartz substrate (channel width) can be about 0.05 mm wh ich leads to a substantial miniaturization of the device and good transpare ncy for neutrons. The transmission and polarizing efficiency of the microbe nder in a wide wavelength band are calculated supposing Fe/Ge supermirror o n quartz with Gd absorbing layer. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.