Inelastic neutron scattering study of mixture of methane and ethane at low temperatures

One of the strategic priorities for future neutron sources is production of neutron with longer wavelengths (very-cold neutrons). The development of such an advanced neutron sources is based on right choice of the moderator material and its optimization. One of the most important pieces of information needed for prediction of the scattering probabilities of the moderator candidate materials is their vibrational density spectrum because the dynamics of the material is enclosed in its generalized frequency spectrum. We propose to use TOSCA instrument to measure the inelastic neutron scattering spectra of methane and a 3:1 mixture of methane and ethane at temperature below 20K. The mixture of methane and ethane is a potential moderator material candidate for production of very cold neutrons.