July 2025

Journal

A compact electromagnetic neutron nutator for precise neutron spin manipulation

By:
Burrage, Kaleb C; Jiang, Chenyang ; Li, Fankang
Journal Name:
Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Page Number:
170649
Volume:
1080
Publication Date:
July 21, 2025
View DOI Listing:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2025.170649

Abstract

A superconducting electromagnetic nutator (EMN) capable of generating a magnetic field vector along an arbitrary direction on a 2D plane has been designed. Its performance in precisely manipulating the neutron polarization vector has been tested at the HB2-D polarized development beamline at the High Flux Isotope Reactor. Unlike mechanical nutators that require physical handling or motor-driven actuation to rotate the magnetic field, the magnitude and orientation of the magnetic field produced by the EMN can be controlled electromagnetically. The compact design (~15 mm depth, not including cryogenic housing) of this device ensures ease of coupling within existing superconducting neutron spin manipulation devices, such as magnetic Wollaston prisms (MWP), resonant radio frequency (RF) flippers, spherical neutron polarimetry (SNP) devices, etc.