In the realm of energy research, understanding the intricate details of materials, especially magnetic ones, is crucial for developing advanced technologies. A new software tool, NuMagSANS, developed by researchers Michael P. Adams and Andreas Michels from the Institut Laue-Langevin in Grenoble, France, aims to provide deeper insights into these complex systems. This tool could potentially aid in the development of more efficient energy storage and conversion technologies.
NuMagSANS is a GPU-accelerated, open-source software package designed to calculate nuclear and magnetic small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) cross sections and correlation functions. SANS is a technique used to investigate the structure of materials on the nanoscale. By analyzing how neutrons scatter off a sample, researchers can infer details about the sample’s internal structure.
The software allows users to import position-dependent nuclear density and magnetization data, offering flexibility in analyzing the scattering signatures of complex systems, particularly magnetic materials. This is significant because magnetic materials are integral to many energy technologies, including generators, motors, and data storage systems. Understanding their structure can lead to improvements in these technologies.
One of the standout features of NuMagSANS is its full rotational control of the sample. This allows for a comprehensive exploration of angular-dependent scattering features, providing a more detailed picture of the material’s structure. The software also includes a versatile library of approximately 100 response functions, encompassing two-dimensional SANS cross sections, correlation functions, and azimuthally averaged quantities. These capabilities enable users to gain detailed insight into the structural and magnetic characteristics of their samples.
The GPU acceleration ensures rapid computations, even for large data sets, making NuMagSANS a powerful and efficient tool for advanced SANS analysis. This speed is crucial for energy researchers who often work with large datasets and need quick turnaround times to iterate on their designs and experiments.
In practical terms, NuMagSANS could be used to study the magnetic properties of materials used in energy storage systems, such as batteries and supercapacitors. By understanding the magnetic structure of these materials, researchers can potentially improve their performance and efficiency. Additionally, the software could be used to study the structural changes that occur in materials during energy conversion processes, such as in fuel cells or solar cells.
The research was published in the journal Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, providing a peer-reviewed foundation for the software’s capabilities and potential applications. As energy researchers continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible, tools like NuMagSANS will be invaluable in their quest to develop the next generation of energy technologies.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.