The new single-crystal neutron Laue diffractometer in Berlin

We have recently completed construction of a thermal neutron Laue diffractometer in the experimental hall of the BER-II reactor at HZB in Berlin. The Fast Acquisition Laue Camera for Neutrons (FALCON) receives a direct stream of neutrons with a low gamma radiation count. Whilst other neutron sources report that guides containing multiple instruments interfere with the intensity and quality of the neutron beam reaching end positions, FALCON will benefit from a beam that does not pass through any objects upstream. A uniquely-designed shutter and beam definer deliver a highly focused neutron beam to the instrument with <1° divergence. The instrument comprises two scintillator plate detectors coupled to four iCCD cameras each. The neutron beam passes through the detector units enabling one detector to be placed in the backscattering position and the second detector in the transmission position. The image-intensified CCDs are capable of obtaining 20-bit digitization Laue images in under ten seconds and variable sample table and detector positions allow a full range of sample environments to be utilised. Simulations using McStas and the HZB in-house software, VITESS, show the expected resolution of our diffractometer. FALCON is currently in the commissioning phase and should be available to users in 2015.