Lieutenant K.: Optimization of neutron scattering instruments using different optimization routines. Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter 17 (2005), p. S167-S174
Abstract:
It is described how a Monte Carlo simulation of neutron scattering instrument can be combined with an optimization routine in order to design an instrument with the best performance. The parameters optimized here describe the converging guide exit of an instrument. A least-square fitting routine as well as a Metropolis algorithm (as used in the Reverse Monte Carlo method) were used to reach this goal. Advantages and disadvantages of the use of these routines are discussed. A combination of both methods is proposed to find the optimal values with high accuracy. In general, the numerical optimization yields results that can hardly be obtained by varying the parameters by hand.