Spin waves, or magnons, in the anti-ferromagnetic α phase of solid oxygen provide a novel mechanism for ultra-cold neutron (UCN) production. Magnons dominate the energy exchange mechanisms for cold neutrons and UCN in solid α-oxygen, much in the same way as do phonons in solid deuterium superthermal UCN sources. We present calculations of UCN production and upscattering rates in S-O2. The results indicate that S-O2 is potentially a much more efficient UCN source material than solid deuterium.
@article{arxiv.nucl-th/0406004,
title = {Ultra-cold Neutron Production in Anti-ferromagnetic Oxygen Solid},
author = {C. -Y. Liu and A. R. Young},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:nucl-th/0406004},
year = {2007}
}