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Neutron scattering is one of the most powerful and versatile experimental methods to study the structure and dynamics of materials on the atomic and nanometer scale. Quoting the [http://www.nobel.se/ Nobel committee], when awarding the prize to C. Shull and B. Brockhouse in 1994 for the invention of neutron scattering, these pioneers have "helped answer the question of where atoms are and ... what atoms do".

Neutron scattering is presently used by more than 10,000 researchers worldwide, and the scope of the method is continuously broadening. In the 1950's and 1960's, neutron scattering was an exotic tool in Solid State Physics and Chemical Crystallography, but today it serves communities as diverse as Biology, Earth Sciences, Planetary Science, Engineering, Polymer Chemistry, and Cultural Heritage. In brief, neutrons are used in all scientific fields that deal with hard, soft, or biological materials. 

It is, however, appropriate to issue a warning already here. Although neutron scattering is a great technique, it is also time-consuming and rare. Neutron scattering experiments last from hours to days and are performed only at a few handfuls of large international facilities. Here, access to measurement time is very competitive, and the running costs correspond to typically 10,000 Euros per instrument day. Hence, neutron scattering should be used only where more accessible methods are inadequate.

For the study of atomic and nanometer-scale structure in materials, X-ray scattering is the technique of choice. X-ray sources are by far more abundant and are, especially for synchrotron X-ray sources, much more intense than neutron sources. Hence, the rule of thumb goes: "If an experiment can be performed with X-rays, use X-rays". For an introduction to X-ray scattering, see, ''e.g.'', the excellent textbook by D. F. McMorrow and J. Als-Nielsen<ref name="mcmorrow">D. F. McMorrow and J. Als-Nielsen, Modern X-ray scattering (Wiley, 2001)</ref>.

However, neutrons have a number of properties that make them extremely useful for purposes where X-rays are insufficient. This chapter will present these properties and describe essential differences between neutron- and X-ray-scattering.

<references />

{{TOC limit|3}}

= [[Basic properties of the neutron]] =

{{:Basic properties of the neutron}}


= [[Particle-wave duality]] =

{{:Particle-wave duality}}


= [[Neutron scattering facilities]] =

{{:Neutron scattering facilities}}


= [[Five reasons for using neutrons]] =

{{:Five reasons for using neutrons}}


= [[On these notes]] =

{{:On these notes}}


 

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Introduction to neutron scattering - Revision history

Wikiadmin: 1 revision imported

Wikiadmin: Created page with "__NOEDITSECTION__ Neutron scattering is one of the most powerful and versatile experimental methods to study the structure and dynamics of materials o..."

ucph>Tommy at 14:18, 1 September 2019

Wikiadmin: Created page with "NOEDITSECTION Neutron scattering is one of the most powerful and versatile experimental methods to study the structure and dynamics of materials o..."