The polarizer-analyzer correction problem in neutron polarization analysis experiments

The equations for correcting the instrumental depolarization effects in neutron polarization analysis experiments are presented in matrix form. It is proved that, when no approximations are made, it is always possible to solve for individual flipper efficiencies but is only sometimes possible to solve for polarizer and analyzer efficiencies. For certain experiments it is necessary to know these quantities to correctly analyze data. This is not a serious problem when the elements are very efficient, but has important ramifications when the efficiency is poor and/or time dependent, as is often the case with the helium-3 neutron polarizing method. Methods of solving for the polarizer and analyzer efficiencies are presented.