Everything about Neutron diffraction
Technique to investigate atomic structures using neutron scattering
Neutron diffraction or elastic neutron scattering is the application of neutron scattering to the determination of the atomic and/or magnetic structure of a material. A sample to be examined is placed in a beam of thermal or cold neutrons to obtain a diffraction pattern that provides information of the structure of the material. The technique is similar to X-ray diffraction but, due to their different scattering properties, neutrons and X-rays provide complementary information: X-Rays are suited for superficial analysis, strong x-rays from synchrotron radiation are suited for shallow depths or thin specimens, while neutrons having high penetration depth are suited for bulk samples. Wikipedia →
🧭 Start here: a 6-step reading path
- Read the overview: Neutron diffractionA 5-minute orientation
- Skim a recent paper: Absence of magnetic order in RuO2: insights from μSR spectroscopy and neutron diffractionInfluential work since 2022
- Pick up a classic book: Modern Diffraction MethodsThe most-reprinted book on the subject
- Read the landmark paper: Recent advances in magnetic structure determination by neutron powder diffractionCited 15,359 times
- Go sideways: Clifford ShullA closely related topic
- Go sideways: Powder diffractionA closely related topic
📖 Definitions
Noun The interference process which occurs when neutrons are scattered by the atoms within solids, liquids and gases.
🏆 Landmark papers (most cited)
Recent advances in magnetic structure determination by neutron powder diffraction
Tables of bond lengths determined by X-ray and neutron diffraction. Part 1. Bond lengths in organic compounds
Line profiles of neutron powder-diffraction peaks for structure refinement
Crystal Structure and Hydrogen-Bonding System in Cellulose Iβ from Synchrotron X-ray and Neutron Fiber Diffraction
Neutron Diffraction Study of the Magnetic Properties of the Series of Perovskite-Type Compounds [ ( 1 − x ) La , x Ca ] Mn O 3
LAZY PULVERIX , a computer program, for calculating X-ray and neutron diffraction powder patterns
Crystal Structure and Hydrogen Bonding System in Cellulose I α from Synchrotron X-ray and Neutron Fiber Diffraction
🆕 Influential since 2022
Absence of magnetic order in RuO2: insights from μSR spectroscopy and neutron diffraction
Opening Diffusion Pathways through Site Disorder: The Interplay of Local Structure and Ion Dynamics in the Solid Electrolyte Li6+xP1–xGexS5I as Probed by Neutron Diffraction and NMR
Hydrogen bond symmetrisation in D2O ice observed by neutron diffraction
Neutron diffraction: a primer
Magnetic phase diagram of HoFeO3 by neutron diffraction
📚 Books worth reading
Modern Diffraction MethodsE. J. Mittemeijer, U. Welzel · 2012
Neutron diffractionG. E. Bacon · 1955
X-ray and neutron diffractionG. E. Bacon · 1966
Applications of neutron powder diffractionErich H. Kisi · 2008
Neutron opticsVarley F. Sears · 1989
Time-resolved diffractionJohn R. Helliwell · 1997- 📕Neutron scattering advances and applications · 1988
Diffraction methodsJohn Wormald · 1973
Ranked by number of editions on Open Library, a rough measure of how lasting a book is.
🔗 Related topics
- Clifford Shull Clifford Glenwood Shull (September 23, 1915 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – March 31, 2001) was an American physicist. Shull attended Schenley High School…
- Powder diffraction Powder diffraction is a scientific technique using X-ray, neutron, or electron diffraction on powder or microcrystalline samples for structural characterization…
- Neutron scattering Neutron scattering, the irregular dispersal of free neutrons by matter, can refer to either the naturally occurring physical process itself or to the man-made…
- Crystallography Crystallography is the branch of science devoted to the study of molecular and crystalline structure and properties. The word crystallography is derived…
- Small-angle neutron scattering Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) is an experimental technique that uses elastic neutron scattering at small scattering angles to investigate the structure…
- Neutron reflectometry Neutron reflectometry is a neutron diffraction technique for measuring the structure of thin films, similar to the often complementary techniques of X-ray…
- ISIS Neutron and Muon Source The ISIS Neutron and Muon Source is a pulsed neutron and muon source at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) of the Science and Technology Facilities…
- Brent Fultz Brent Fultz is an American physicist and materials scientist and one of the world's leading authorities on statistical mechanics, diffraction, and phase…