Investigation of guides for ultracold neutrons

We have investigated new guides for ultracold neutrons (UCN) produced with the so-called Replika-method. A Nickel-Vanadium alloy was used as reflecting material. The transport properties for UCN were measured at the PF2/TES beam at the Institut Laue-Langevin. We measured a transmission of (0.990 +/- 0.006) m(-1) and storage times varying from 20-40 s depending on the length of the guide system. The diffuse reflectivity was also measured yielding a value of 0.030 +/- 0.005. A new type of UCN distribution switch was also tested with a transmission of 0.92 +/- 0.01.