NERF (Slow NEutron Reflection using Fluorinated nanodiamonds and graphite)

The progress in neutron science is limited by the severe decrease of fluxes of slow neutrons (SNs) available. The targeted scientific breakthrough of NERF consists of the development of first ever efficient reflectors for SNs. In the present state, the mean efficiency of SN delivery to the user is limited - only ~10-6 fraction of neutrons is “useful”, and the delivery efficiency drops down dramatically at small neutron energies.
The researchers propose to mimic the conventional operation of a reflector by replacing the atoms/nuclei by nanoparticles of low neutron absorption and thus to change the dimensional scale from angstrom to nanometer. A new class of reflectors composed of purified nanodiamonds in H, C sp2 and metallic particles on the one hand and fluorinated graphites on the other hand will thus provide a continuity of high reflectivities, filling the current gap of velocities between 160 and 700 m/s.