Fig. 1
From: Sample changers for direct geometry neutron chopper spectrometers
Quantification of sample changer efficiency. (a) Number of samples that can be measured as a function of time for operation without (red line) and with a three-sample changer (black dotted line). The label no sample changer refers to there being only a single sample available for a measurement cycle. Calculation considers staff being available at all times to change samples. Details of calculation are described in the text. The ordinate of the lines shown increases by one at the completion of each sample measurement. (b) Number of samples that can be measured as a function of time for operations without (red line) and with a three (black dotted line) or twelve (black dashed line) sample changer. Calculation considers staff being available to change samples only during a fixed 8 hour shift in each day. Details of calculation are described in the text. The grey shaded area illustrates the portion of time an individual is present to change samples at the instrument. Inset shows the gain factor for a N-sample changer when considering 24 hour staffing (blue points) and 8-hour staffing (grey squares). This gain is for the time-intervals chosen for panels (a) and (b) of the figure and described in the text. (c) Samples measured using the 8 hour shift limitations for the ultra-low-temperature sample changer considered as described in the text.
