Summary
Neutron scattering is one of the most powerful methods for the detailed investigation of condensed matter. Not only are structures from atomic to mesoscopic scales accessible, but also can dynamical properties of atoms, molecules, magnetic moments etc. be investigated. The prominent properties of neutrons with wavelengths of the order of atomic dimensions and, at the same time, frequencies of the order of characteristic vibrational frequencies allow us to investigate the space-time behavior of condensed matter on a microscopic scale over many decades. A good number of different and most efficient experimental techniques have been developed for different fields of application. Within this introductory chapter, we would like to provide the reader with a brief review about the main achievements in instrumentation without going into specific details, that may be found in the specialized literature.
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- 1.
If the dimensions of the moderator are small, as in the case of a cold source, then H2 may be a useful and easier to handle alternative to D2 [4], despite the fact that D2 would offer the optimum cold spectrum.
- 2.
The nuclear reactions following the impact of the proton beam depend on the proton energy. Below an excitation energy of 250 MeV the boiling-off of neutrons is dominant. Most of them have energies in the 2 MeV range. This boiling-off is the main neutron production channel even for 1 GeV proton beams as normally only part of the proton energy is deposited in the target nuclei. There is, however, also an appreciable amount of faster neutrons. Their spectrum reaches up to the incident proton energy. These very fast neutrons require extremely heavy shielding around the target. The neutrons and the remaining excited nucleus engage in a cascade of secondary decay processes. Per useful neutron about 30 MeV of energy have to be evacuated in the case of spallation, compared to about 200 MeV in the case of fission.
- 3.
In the case of a pulsed source this function can in principle be assured by the source itself. In most cases it is, however still necessary to shape the pulse.
- 4.
If there were means of moderating the neutron spectrum efficiently down to even lower temperatures, that is, of achieving high neutron flux at wavelengths ranging from 10 to 1000Å, large objects could in principle be investigated at wider angles. In practice one would, however, reach limits due to the high absorption and finally weak penetration of long wavelength neutrons.
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Eckold, G., Schober, H. (2009). Introduction to Neutron Techniques. In: Eckold, G., Schober, H., Nagler, S. (eds) Studying Kinetics with Neutrons. Springer Series in Solid-State Sciences, vol 161. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-03309-4_1
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