Recent Advances in Neutron Optics
A special issue of Photonics (ISSN 2304-6732).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 19 June 2026 | Viewed by 17
Special Issue Editors
Interests: neutron optics; neutron instrumentation; neutron detection; neutron source; neutron imaging
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Neutron optics provide transformative opportunities for modern neutron beam applications, including scattering, imaging, and materials analysis. Indeed, it is commonly used in neutron research facilities. Innovations in multi-layered coatings, superconducting materials, micro-fabricated devices, and computational design methods are providing more opportunities for controlling neutron trajectory, energy, and spin. These advancements directly translate to enhanced experimental capabilities, opening new frontiers in applications ranging from fundamental physics to next-generation energy materials.
This Special Issue aims to present an overview of cutting-edge research, analyzing developments in neutron optics theory, results, and their applications. We welcome broad, visionary contributions in the form of short research, reports as well as a collections of reviews of recent accomplishments. We are excited to invite researchers to submit their contributions to this Special Issue. Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Neutron beam manipulation: polarizers, monochromators, supermirrors, and neutron guides
- Quantum neutron optics: wave–particle duality, entanglement, and interferometry
- Advanced instrumentation: neutron lenses, resonators, and spin-control devices
- Novel materials for optics: metamaterials, nanostructured coatings, and magnetic heterostructures
- Ultra-cold and very-cold neutron technologies
- Neutron imaging and tomography: phase contrast, dark-field, and time-resolved techniques
- Hybrid methods: integration with X-ray, laser, or synchrotron techniques
Dr. Zhanwen Ma
Dr. Erxi Feng
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Photonics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- neutron optics
- neutron delivery
- neutron focusing
- neutron guide
- neutron super-mirror
- neutron polarizer
- neutron chopper
- neutron instrumentation
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