Quick Search:    advanced search

GSW Home   GeoRef Home   My GSW Alerts   Contact GSW   About GSW   Journals List   Help

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Parise, J. B. Search for Related Content GeoRef GeoRef Citation

Introduction to Neutron Properties and Applications

Department of Geosciences, Chemistry Department and Center for Environmental Molecular Sciences Stony Brook University Stony Brook, New York, 11794-2100, U.S.A., e-mail: John.Parise@stonybrook.edu

The first 20% of the full text of this article appears below.

	INTRODUCTION

 
Neutrons are powerful probes of nuclear and magnetic structure of condensed matter, and of lattice dynamics. Many of the unique properties of the neutron (shown in Tables 1 and 2) have no equivalent in X-ray studies (Bacon 1962). Neutrons are important in locating light atoms such as hydrogen and lithium and to study the diffusion of hydrogenous molecules. With some exceptions, they easily distinguish neighboring elements in the periodic table, such as Mg/Al and Si/Al for example, which are indistinguishable with X-rays. Neutrons are particularly well suited to investigations taking advantage of isotope substitution, since different isotopes (¹H/²H) have very different scattering power. Indeed the inherent differences in the X-ray and neutron scattering processes mean that the neutron scattering length, the equivalent of the X-ray scattering factor, can be negative for certain isotopes, or near zero. This leads to possibilities unique to neutron experiments such as the use of null scattering materials (Table 2) like alloys of Ti and Zr, and vanadium metal. TiZr and V are ubiquitous at neutron sources, and are used to make neutron transparent sample holders and for environmental cells. This property also allows contrast matching studies of nano-materials in mixtures of H₂O-D₂O, for example. The overall scattering length for H₂O is negative and that of D₂O is positive; by mixing the two forms of water, average scattering lengths in between those of H₂O and D₂O are created. These mixtures can then be used to match the average scattering length, contrast match, particles immersed in this fluid. In another example of the power of neutron scattering, the determination of magnetic structure and site magnetic moments is routine with neutron scattering techniques, because absolute measurements of intensity are straightforward. No magnetic structures have been solved . . . [Full Text of this Article]

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N. L. Ross and C. Hoffmann Single-crystal Neutron Diffraction: Present and Future Applications Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, January 1, 2006; 63(1): 59 - 80. [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. B. Von Dreele Neutron Rietveld Refinement Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, January 1, 2006; 63(1): 81 - 98. [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Knorr and W. Depmeier Application of Neutron Powder-Diffraction to Mineral Structures Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, January 1, 2006; 63(1): 99 - 111. [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. J. Harrison Neutron Diffraction of Magnetic Materials Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, January 1, 2006; 63(1): 113 - 143. [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. A. T. Redfern Neutron Powder Diffraction Studies of Order-Disorder Phase Transitions and Kinetics Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, January 1, 2006; 63(1): 145 - 170. [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. F. Kuhs and T. C. Hansen Time-resolved Neutron Diffraction Studies with Emphasis on Water Ices and Gas Hydrates Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, January 1, 2006; 63(1): 171 - 204. [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. B. Parise High Pressure Studies Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, January 1, 2006; 63(1): 205 - 231. [Full Text] [PDF]

				H.-R. Wenk Neutron Diffraction Texture Analysis Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, January 1, 2006; 63(1): 399 - 426. [Full Text] [PDF]