Neutron scattering 1042053 205996139 2008-04-16T11:16:44Z Grj23 1173284 nuance of inelastic scattering allowing a more energetic neutron to be emitted. The term '''"Neutron Scattering"''' encompasses all scientific techniques whereby the deflection of [[neutron radiation]] is used as a scientific probe. Neutrons readily interact with atomic nuclei and magnetic fields from unpaired electrons, making a useful probe of both structure and magnetic order. Neutron Scattering falls into two basic categories - elastic and inelastic. Elastic scattering is when a neutron interacts with a nucleus or electronic magnetic field but does not leave it in an excited state, meaning the emitted neutron has the same energy as the injected neutron. Scattering processes that involve an energetic excitation or relaxation by the neutron are inelastic: the injected neutron's energy is used or increased to create an excitation or by absorbing the excess energy from a relaxation, and consequently the emitted neutron's energy is reduced or increased respectively. For several good reasons, [[neutron temperature|moderated neutrons]] provide an ideal tool for the study of almost all forms of [[condensed matter]]. Firstly, they are readily produced at a nuclear [[research reactor]] or a [[spallation source]]. Normally in such processes neutrons are however produced with much higher energies than are needed. Therefore [[Neutron_moderator|moderators]] are generally used which slow the neutrons down and therefore produce wavelengths that are comparable to the atomic spacing in solids and liquids, and kinetic energies that are comparable to those of dynamic processes in materials. Moderators can be made from [[Aluminium]] and filled with liquid [[hydrogen]] (for very long wavelength neutrons) or liquid [[methane]] (for shorter wavelength neutrons). Fluxes of 10<sup>7</sup>/s - 10<sup>8</sup>/s are not atypical in most neutron sources from any given moderator. The neutrons cause pronounced [[interference]] and [[energy transfer]] effects in scattering experiments. Unlike an [[x-ray]] [[photon]] with a similar wavelength, which interacts with the [[electron cloud]] surrounding the [[atomic nucleus |nucleus]], neutrons interact with the nucleus itself. Because the neutron is an electrically neutral particle, it is deeply penetrating, and is therefore more able to probe the bulk material. Consequently, it enables the use of a wide range of sample environments that are difficult to use with [[synchrotron]] x-ray sources. It also has the advantage that the cross sections for interaction do not increase with atomic number as they do with radiation from a synchrotron x-ray source. Thus neutrons can be used to analyse materials with low atomic numbers like proteins and surfactants. This can be done at synchrotron sources but very high intensities are needed which may cause the structures to change. Moreover, the nucleus provides a very short range, isotropic potential varying randomly from [[isotope]] to isotope, making it possible to tune the nuclear scattering contrast to suit the experiment: The neutron has an additional advantage over the x-ray photon in the study of condensed matter. It readily interacts with internal [[magnetic field]]s in the sample. In fact, the strength of the magnetic scattering signal is often very similar to that of the nuclear scattering signal in many materials, which allows the simultaneous exploration of both nuclear and magnetic structure. Because the neutron scattering amplitude can be measured in absolute units, both the structural and magnetic properties as measured by neutrons can be compared quantitatively with the results of other characterisation techniques. == See also == *[[Neutron diffraction]] *[[Small angle neutron scattering]] *[[Neutron Reflectometry]] *[[Inelastic neutron scattering]] **[[neutron triple-axis spectrometry]] **[[neutron time-of-flight scattering]] **[[neutron backscattering]] **[[neutron spin echo]] **[[neutron resonance spin echo]] * [[Neutron facilities|Neutron scattering facilities]] ==External links== *[http://www.mrl.ucsb.edu/~pynn/primer.pdf Neutron Scattering--A Primer] - An introductory article written by Roger Pynn (Los Alamos National Laboratory) [[Category:Neutron related techniques]] [[Category:Scattering]] [[Category:Neutron]] [[de:Neutronenstreuung]] [[sr:Расипање неутрона]]