Speaker
Description
In the development of neutron scattering instruments, the primary focus is often on maximizing signal intensity, while managing instrument background tends to receive comparatively less attention. This imbalance is not necessarily due to a lack of awareness of the importance of background reduction but rather reflects the historical reality that mitigating instrument noise has been more of an art than a science. While substantial tribal knowledge exists in this area, there is no standardized methodology or formula for optimizing instrument backgrounds.
In this presentation, we will share several illustrative examples from the Lujan Center at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE), Los Alamos National Laboratory. These examples will highlight both signal-to-noise challenges and strategies. Additionally, results from beamline source term verification experiments will be presented to further explore the complexities of background characterization and control.
