Letter abstract
Nature Physics 4, 399 - 403 (2008)
Published online: 30 March 2008 | doi:10.1038/nphys912
Subject Category: Techniques and instrumentation
Three-dimensional imaging of magnetic fields with polarized neutrons
Nikolay Kardjilov1, Ingo Manke1,2, Markus Strobl1,3, André Hilger1, Wolfgang Treimer1,4, Michael Meissner1, Thomas Krist1 & John Banhart1,2
Neutrons are highly sensitive to magnetic fields owing to their magnetic moment, whereas their charge neutrality enables them to penetrate even massive samples. The combination of these properties with radiographic and tomographic imaging1, 2, 3, 4 enables a technique that is unique for investigations of macroscopic magnetic phenomena inside solid materials. Here, we introduce a new experimental method yielding two- and three-dimensional images that represent changes of the quantum-mechanical spin state of neutrons caused by magnetic fields in and around bulk objects. It opens up a way to the detection and imaging of previously inaccessible magnetic field distributions, hence closing the gap between high-resolution two-dimensional techniques for surface magnetism5, 6 and scattering techniques for the investigation of bulk magnetism7, 8, 9. The technique was used to investigate quantum effects inside a massive sample of lead (a type-I superconductor).
- Hahn–Meitner Institute (HMI) Berlin, 14109 Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Technology, 10623 Berlin, Germany
- Ruprecht Karls University Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- University of Applied Sciences (TFH) Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
Correspondence to: Nikolay Kardjilov1 e-mail: kardjilov@hmi.de
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