DESC0024799

Phase III Physics LLC (P3P) proposes to establish the capacity to manufacture and supply neutron optical systems in its own Multilayer Guide Manufacturing Facility (MGMF) in downtown Los Angeles in anticipation of the impending surge in demand for substantial neutron delivery systems, including the planned upgrades at the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) in Oakridge, TN, and the construction of European Spallation Source (ESS) In Sweden. Phase III Physics LLC has established a strategic collaboration involving the University of Kentucky (UK) and the University of Southern California (USC) for this initiative. At UK, the specialized thin film sputtering techniques and forefront in-situ deposit characterization capabilities offered by Professor Ambrose Seo's experimental condensed matter group will be harnessed, as well as the neutron supermirror simulation and design acumen of Professor Christopher Crawford's neutron physics group. At USC, the Hodge Materials Research Group led by Professor Andrea Hodge will provide the needed expertise in high throughput synthesis and characterization of thin film deposition techniques as well as their knowledge of large scale custom sputtering chamber development, leveraging their 20+ years of experience in the field. During phase-I, wafer-sized deposits containing Ni/Ti and Fe/Si multilayers will be produced using DC magnetron sputtering at the UK Center for Advanced Materials (CAM) lab under the direction of Professor Seo, with layer numbers and thicknesses chosen to produce m=4 reflection determined by simulation studies carried out by Professor Crawfordĺs group and Dr. Christopher Haddock of P3P. Surface roughness is measured in-situ using spectroscopic ellipsometry. Samples will be further characterized on the neutron reflectometer instrument at the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR) by Dr. Haddock using a polarized and unpolarized 2.4 A neutron beam with the aid of Dr. Thomas Heitmann of MURR. In parallel, Dr. Haddock will coordinate with Professor Hodge at USC to produce significantly larger planar Ni/Ti supermirror samples of m = 4 reflectivity at USC using existing equipment, guided by the ongoing work at UK with the aim of establishing the conditions needed for low- roughness interfaces and avoiding strain within the layers. These samples will not be tested with neutrons in phase-I but will be characterized ex-situ. Dr. Haddock will then work with the Hodge group to begin the design of a custom large deposition chamber to be constructed at MGMF, conveniently located about 2 miles from the USC campus. In phase-II, design of the large deposition chamber will complete, and construction will begin with the aid of USC. The chamber will produce supermirrors to be fully assembled in guide configuration. These guides will be characterized using neutrons at an appropriate facility and upon successful demonstration, follow-on funding will be sought by P3P. This funding will be used to increase throughput and quality assessment following phase-II and into the commercialization stage.