Spin echo small angle neutron scattering

For broader coverage of this topic, see Small-angle scattering.

Spin echo small angle neutron scattering (SESANS) measures structures from around 20 to 2000 nm in size. The information is presented as a real-space (similar to g(r)) as opposed to a reciprocal space (q(r)) mapping. This can simplify the interpretation for some systems.^[1] SESANS is useful for studying processes that occur over relatively long time scales, as data collection is often slow, but large length scales. Aggregation of colloids,^[2] block copolymer micelles,^[3] Stöber silica particles^[4] being a prime examples.

The technique offers some advantages over SANS^[5] but there are fewer SESANS instruments available than SANS instruments. Facilities for SESANS exist at TUDelft (Netherlands)^[6] and Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (UK).^[7]