Deuterated Clathrate Hydrates as a Novel Moderator Material for Very Cold Neutrons

Producing more intense very cold neutron beams could enhance both neutron scattering techniques and precision experiments in particle physics using slow neutrons. Clathrate hydrates containing THF-d and O₂ offer new moderation pathways via localized low-energy modes. Neutron scattering experiments confirmed the hydrate structure as well as vibrational and magnetic contributions to neutron thermalization.

https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18020298