Transmission of ultra-cold neutrons through guides coated with materials of high optical potential

Abstract We have measured the transmission of ultra-cold neutrons (UCN) through tubes coated on the inside with materials of high optical potentials. The best transmission value, T , normalised to 1 m long UCN guides was obtained with a beryllium coated quartz guide, T =(99.0±1.0)%. Furthermore, excellent transmission coefficients were found for (i) a glass tube coated with NiMo(88/12), T =(97.3 ±0.6)%, (ii) a NiMo(85/15) guide made by the replication technique, T =(97.1 ±0.8)% and (iii) a glass guide coated with NiMo(82/18), T =(96.3 ±2.1)%. The results demonstrate that UCN guides made from coated glass tubes have the same excellent transmission properties as those produced with the replication technique. They are, however, significantly cheaper.