Neutron-scattering experiment on solid 3 He

The central aim of our work is the characterisation of magnetic and crystallographic properties of solid 3 He on a microscopic scale. This can only be achieved using neutron-diffraction techniques. The potential of neutron methods in magnetism and their application to nuclear magnetism is well known. They were very successful in the recent investigation of spontaneous nuclear order in copper and silver. The high neutron absorption cross section makes the application of neutron diffraction in solid 3 He very difficult - but a careful feasibility study of diffraction experiments shows that new results of fundamental importance in the field of magnetism may be gained.