Help with neutron scattering in solid state physics

[DannyJ108]

Homework Statement

Scientific essay on neutron scattering

Relevant Equations

neutrons

Hello fellow physicists,

I have a homework assignment which is to make a scientific essay (10-15 pages long) on neutron scattering in solid state physics. Our teacher is kind of the worse and he hasn't specified what he wants it on. He just said what I'm telling you: "An essay on neutron scattering. Not going to tell you anything else so no papers are the same."

I'm new to solid state, I know what it's all about, also neutron scattering, but don't have the enough knowledge (I think) to freely start writing about this, so I wouldn't know what I should write about. Don't know if he wants for us to explain how it works, some kind of experiment, a scientific theory... He won't say anything.

Could you give me any ideas on what to do or how to proceed? Much appreciated.
Thank you.

 

[Charles Link]

See https://www.physicsforums.com/threa...a-rutherfords-experiment.965947/#post-6131309
for simple scattering theory.
I would highly recommend the book by Squires on Thermal Neutron Scattering for your essay.
Let me see if I can find a "link"=Yes: https://www.amazon.com/dp/048669447X/?tag=pfamazon01-20

 

[Astronuc]

Homework Statement:: Scientific essay on neutron scattering
Relevant Equations:: neutrons

I'm new to solid state, I know what it's all about, also neutron scattering, but don't have the enough knowledge (I think) to freely start writing about this, so I wouldn't know what I should write about. Don't know if he wants for us to explain how it works, some kind of experiment, a scientific theory... He won't say anything.

Could you give me any ideas on what to do or how to proceed? Much appreciated.
Thank you.

Charles link mentioned thermal neutrons, which generally means relatively low energy (eV) neutrons often in thermal equilibrium with the media. Neutron sources however are in the MeV range. Fission neutrons have a spectrum of energies with a peak around 0.9 MeV.
https://indico.cern.ch/event/145296/contributions/1381141/attachments/136909/194258/lecture24.pdf

What about neutrons from fusion reactions?

What are the reactions/processes involved in neutron scattering? In other words, what is the physics?
https://web.physics.udel.edu/research/condensed-matter-physics/neutron-scattering

Search on "Physics of neutron scattering" and see what resources are available.

What are the applications/uses (i.e., applied physics) of neutron scattering? Consider one, neutron radiography.
https://phoenixwi.com/neutron-radiography/

 

[DannyJ108]

Thank you for the answers, they were very helpful!

 

[DannyJ108]

Charles link mentioned thermal neutrons, which generally means relatively low energy (eV) neutrons often in thermal equilibrium with the media. Neutron sources however are in the MeV range. Fission neutrons have a spectrum of energies with a peak around 0.9 MeV.
https://indico.cern.ch/event/145296/contributions/1381141/attachments/136909/194258/lecture24.pdf

What about neutrons from fusion reactions?

What are the reactions/processes involved in neutron scattering? In other words, what is the physics?
https://web.physics.udel.edu/research/condensed-matter-physics/neutron-scattering

Search on "Physics of neutron scattering" and see what resources are available.

What are the applications/uses (i.e., applied physics) of neutron scattering? Consider one, neutron radiography.
https://phoenixwi.com/neutron-radiography/

Sorry to bring this thread back from the dead, but does neutron radiography count as neutron scattering? Also is neutron imaging and neutron tomography the same thing? If it is, is it also the same as neutron scattering or in the contrary case, what's the difference between them? I', so confused and can't find a straight answer on the internet. My paper needs to be on neutron scattering and I'm not sure if neutron radiography would count as an example of it, or if it's the same as neutron imaging.

Thank you very much in advance!

 

[Charles Link]

I would think that part of the goal of the assignment would be to learn about scattering theory in general, e.g. the differential scattering cross section $\frac{d \sigma}{d \Omega}$, etc. That is not the case with neutron radiography.

 

[Astronuc]

Sorry to bring this thread back from the dead, but does neutron radiography count as neutron scattering? Also is neutron imaging and neutron tomography the same thing? If it is, is it also the same as neutron scattering or in the contrary case, what's the difference between them? I', so confused and can't find a straight answer on the internet. My paper needs to be on neutron scattering and I'm not sure if neutron radiography would count as an example of it, or if it's the same as neutron imaging.

Thank you very much in advance!

Neutron imaging or radiography is more about transmission, i.e., what isn't absorbed or scattered. Radiography/imaging are applications.

See if this helps - New neutron imaging techniques to close the gap to scattering applications
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/746/1/012070/pdf

Neutron Scattering does not utilize the direct beam in forward direction, but takes care for the scattered components around the sample. Often the initial beam is tuned with respect to the applied energy band and the beam collimation onto the sample. The scattered neutrons are measured mainlyby means of counting devices and high background sensitivity is often a problem.

This scattered component delivers information about the microscopic, atomic and molecular properties of the investigated materials (under different, even extreme conditions) like structure, lattice distances, phase transition, particles size and even quantum phenomena.

We can distinguish different classes of settings: diffraction, small angle neutron scattering (SANS), reflectrometry, spectroscopy (inelastic scattering) resulting in highly specialized facilities. The related length-scale where information can be derived is on the order of nano-meters to micro-meters (Fig. 1). The real overlap is on the length scale for USANS vs. high resolution imaging and methodically for diffractive imaging.

https://www.nist.gov/ncnr/neutron-instruments/small-angle-neutron-scattering-sans
https://www.ncnr.nist.gov/summerschool/ss04/information/SANS_tutorial.pdf

https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2013/cp/c3cp50293g#!divAbstract
https://aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/1.2759200

https://neutrons.ornl.gov/usans

 

[DannyJ108]

I would think that part of the goal of the assignment would be to learn about scattering theory in general, e.g. the differential scattering cross section $\frac{d \sigma}{d \Omega}$, etc. That is not the case with neutron radiography.

Do you think it's possible to do 10-15 pages talking about that only?

 

[Astronuc]

Do you think it's possible to do 10-15 pages talking about that only?

Usually, one would write a paper about a physical phenomenon and answer the question, "what is it?", then one can write an answer to the question, "What can one do with it?"

 

[Charles Link]

Do you think it's possible to do 10-15 pages talking about that only?

If you get a copy of the text by Squires, I think you might have little trouble writing ten or more pages.

 

[DannyJ108]

If you get a copy of the text by Squires, I think you might have little trouble writing ten or more pages.

Kinda hard finding it online and I doubt I'll buy it since I'll only make use of it once. Though I'm sure it's a great book, since I've seen it referenced in many places, do you know of any other good books on the subject?

 

[Charles Link]

Kinda hard finding it online and I doubt I'll buy it since I'll only make use of it once. Though I'm sure it's a great book, since I've seen it referenced in many places, do you know of any other good books on the subject?

It's well worth the price, (the cost is minimal compared to tuition), and I don't know of any other book that covers the subject anywhere near as well as this one.