NXcanSAS v1.1

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THIS PAGE IS WORK IN PROGRESS

Latest News

2024-09 : Proposals for NXcanSAS v1.1 in development

Overview

Since its release in 2017, the NXcanSAS format has served the community well, but mostly in the role of an HDF equivalent to the CanSAS1D XML format. However, as is evident in its founding discussions, far greater functionality was originally envisaged. Advances in instrumentation and science are now starting to push at the boundaries of NXcanSAS v1.0. One such area is what may be termed Magnetic-SANS which encompasses a number of different SANS techniques involving manipulation of the neutron spin. To meet the needs of this area revisions are required to both NXcanSAS v1.0 and NeXus.

The Magnetic-SANS Problem

To reliably and unambigulously interpret Magnetic-SANS data it is necessary to know the spin history of the neutrons during the measurement. This, in turn, requires NXcanSAS to:

  • have a way to denote the spin states (ie, the polarisation);
  • have a way to include the spin state information with the data;
  • have a way to identify the type of Magnetic-SANS technique that generated the data, and;
  • to include metadata relating to the spin manipulating devices (order encountered, type, etc) used during the measurement of the data.

NXcanSAS v1.0 and NeXus provide for some, but alas not all, of this information.

v1.1 Sub-group

  • Dirk Honecker (ISIS)
  • Steve King (ISIS & CanSAS)
  • Annika Stellhorn (ESS)
  • Lucas Wilkins (ISIS Data Scientist)

Proposals

For NXcanSAS v1.1

please check back

For NeXus

please check back