High aspect ratio grating by isochronal imprinting of less viscous workable Gd-based metallic glass for neutron phase imaging

Abstract Metallic glass (MG) exhibits viscous flow behavior in the supercooled liquid (SCL) state, which is of great advantage for its net-forming process. However, the viscous workability varies strongly with the alloy system and/or composition. In this paper, we demonstrate how MG with less viscous workability such as Gd-based MG can be processed in the SCL region. Based on this understanding, high aspect ratio analyzer gratings of 9 μm pitch and ∼30 μm heights have been fabricated through an imprinting method by allowing crystallization during a rapid heating isochronal imprinting process. The analyzer gratings made of Gd-based MG have brought a breakthrough for advancing neutron phase imaging based on grating interferometer.