Neutron Diffraction Techniques

Diffraction Techniques
METHOD
The electron diffraction method has got several technical

advantages over X-ray method. Some of the advantages
are given below:
1.X-ray method cannot be used under reduced pressure, while electron diffraction method
can be applied even to gases and vapors. In other electron diffraction is of special
importance for studying vapors and liquids which boil under atmospheric pressure with
decomposition.
2.The exposure required in the x-ray method are quit long, but on account of the greater
intensity of electron beam, the time of exposure is reduced from a few hours (required for
the X-ray method) to a fraction of second.
What's the Neutron diffraction ?
Neutron diffraction is a method by which neutrons are used
to determine the atomic and/or magnetic structure of a
material. It can be equally well applied to study crystalline s o l i
d , g a s s e s , l i qu i d s or a m o r p h o u s m a t e r i a l s .
Discovery of neutron
• The neutron was discovered in 1932 by James Chadwick
• Coherent neutron diffraction (Bragg scattering by crystal

lattice planes) was first demonstrated in 1936 by Mitchel &
Powers (MgO) and Halban & Preiswerk (Fe).
• The possibility of using the scattering of neutrons as a

probe of materials developed with the availability of slow
neutrons from reactors after 1945. Fermi's group used
Bragg scattering to measure nuclear cross-sections
James Chadwick: Nobel Prize in physics 1935
Enrico Fermi: Nobel Prize in physics 1938

History of neutron scattering
Brockhouse is the first person to develop slow
neutron spectroscopy to study the excitations of
atoms in condensed matter.
The energy of thermal neutron is comparable to the

quantum energy or phonon in a normal mode of
vibration of a crystal
Neutrons see..
where atoms … and what atoms

are….(Structure) do. (Dynamics)
Properties of neutron
Magnetic dipole moment:
Mass of the neutron
• n = 9.6623640×10−27 J.T-1 (-1.913N)
• Mn = 1.675 x 10-27 Kg • p = 14.106067 × 10−27 J⋅T−1
• Mp (mass of a Proton) = 1.673 x 10-27 Kg • e = −9284.764 × 10−27 J⋅T−1
• Me (mass of an Electron) = 9.109 × 10-31 Kg (Joule/Tesla)
Electric Charge • .
• Charge of a Neutron = 0
• Charge of Proton = 1.602 x 10-19 C
• Charge of Electron = -1.602 x 10-19 C
Spin angular momentum (Spin)

• Spin of a Neutron = ½
• Spin of a Proton = ½
• Spin of an Electron = ½
Magnetic properties of neutron
• The magnetic moment associated with the spin of an electron is approximately 1000
times larger than the magnetic moment of a neutron.
• The magnetic moment of the neutron is sufficiently large to give rise to an interaction with unpaired
electrons in magnetic atoms. The strength of the interaction is comparable to the interaction of
neutron with the nucleus.
• In compound containing elements of the first transition series in the periodic table (Iron, Cobalt and
Nickel) the 3d shell contains unpaired electrons. The magnetic field created by these unpaired electrons
in the sample interact with the neutron magnetic moment to give magnetic scattering.
• Elastic magnetic scattering or magnetic diffraction leads to the determination of the magnetic structure
of crystal (the arrangement of the magnetic moments of atoms on the crystalline lattice).
• Inelastic magnetic scattering yields information on the magnetic excitation in the sample. For example,
spin wave, in which there are oscillations in the orientation of successive spins on the crystal lattice.
The spin waves are quantized energy units called magnons
• The scattering length of neutron is independent of atomic number

• Positive neutron scattering length of a nucleus means repulsive potential the neutron
is subject to as it approaches the nucleus whereas negative scattering length means14
the neutron is subjected to a attractive potential of the nucleus
Advantages:
Mass: Momentum transfer around interatomic distance
Zero charge: highly penetrating: measure bulk properties, can benefit from large samples,
extreme sample environment (high/low temperature, magnetic field, pressure...)
Spin: polarization is possible
Magnetic dipole moment: Neutrons interact with unpaired electrons. Magnetic structure
and spin excitations can be studied
Disadvantages
• Low brilliance of sources: low intensity or resolution, large samples, statistical noise.
• Penetrating: background hard to control, need large samples
• Some elements (B, Cd, Gd,..) strongly absorb
• Neutral: hard to manipulate, accelerate, detect, etc
Why neutron scattering is important?
Neutrons have No Charge! The Energies of neutrons are similar to the
• Highly penetrating energies of elementary excitations!
• Nondestructive • Molecular Vibrations and Lattice modes
• Can be used in extremes • Magnetic excitations
Neutrons have a Magnetic Moment! The Wavelengths of neutrons are similar to

atomic spacing!
• Magnetic structure
• Sensitive to structure
• Fluctuations
• Gathers information from 10-10 to 10-7 m
• Magnetic materials
• Crystal structures and atomic spacing
Neutrons have Spin!
Neutrons probe Nuclei!
• Polarized beams
• Light atom sensitive
• Atomic orientation
• Sensitive to isotopic substitution
• Coherent and incoherent scattering
Interaction of neutron with matter
Neutrons are neutral particle hence can pass large

distance through matter.
Energy change and momentum transfer occur from

Nuclear scattering
• Nucleus
• Crystal excitations (eg. Phonons)
• Unpaired electrons via dipole scattering
• Magnetic structure and excitations
• Diffusion (atomic or molecular)
Magnetic dipole scatteri17ng
What Can Neutrons Do?
Neutrons measure the space and time-dependent correlation function of atoms
and spins – All the Physics!
 Diffraction (the momentum [direction] change of the neutron is measured)
 Atomic Structure via nuclear positions
 Magnetic Structure(neutron magnetic moment interacts with internal fields)
 Disordered systems - radial distribution functions
 Depth profile of order parameters from neutron reflectivity
 Macro-scale structures from Small Angle Scattering (1 nm to 100 nm)
 Inelastic Scattering (the momentum and energy change of the neutron is measured)
 Dispersive and non-dispersive phonon and magnon excitations
 Density of states
 Quasi-elastic scattering
What do we need to do neutron scattering?
 Neutron Source – produces neutrons
 Diffractometer or Spectrometer
 Allows neutrons to interact with sample
 Sorts out discrete wavelengths by monochromator (reactor) or by time of flight
(pulse source)
 Detectors pick up neutrons scattered from sample
 Analysis methods to determine material properties
 Brain power to interpret results
How do we get neutrons?
Research Reactor Sources
 Uses nuclear fission to
create neutrons
 Continuous neutron
flux
 Flux is dependent on
fission rate
 Limited by heat flow
in from the reaction
 Creates radioactive
nuclear waste
How do we get neutrons?
Spallation Sources
 Uses a cascade effect from

the collision of a proton on
a heavy metal.
 Pulsed Source
 High Intensity
 Heat production is
relatively low
General Properties of the Neutron
 The kinetic energy of a 1.8 Å neutron is equivalent to T = 293K (warm
coffee!), so it is called a thermal neutron.
 The relationships between wavelength (Å) and the energy (meV), and the
speed (m/s, mi/hr) of the neutron are:
e.g. the 1.8 Å neutron has E = 25.3 meV and v = 2200 m/s = 4900
mi/hr
 The wavelength if of the same order as the atomic separation so
interference occurs between waves scattered by neighboring atoms
(diffraction).
 Also, the energy is of same order as that of lattice vibrations (phonons) or
magnetic excitations (magnons) and thus creation of annihilation of a
lattice wave produces a measurable shift in neutron energy (inelastic
scattering).
 Neutrons are produced in two main ways
 Research Reactors
 Spallation Sources
 Utilizes the properties of the neutron.

 Neutrons are useful in determining not only structural
properties of a material, but also the vibrational, magnetic,
and lattice excitations.
Neutrons vs. X-rays!
Neutrons allow easy access to atoms that are usually

unseen in X-ray Scattering
COMPARATIVE PROPERTIES OF X-RAY
AND NEUTRON SCATTERING
Property X-Rays Neutrons
Wavelength Characteristic line spectra such as Cu K  Continuous wavelength band, or single 

= 1.54 Å = 1.1  0.05 Å separated out from Maxwell
spectrum by crystal monochromator or
chopper
Energy for  = 1 Å 1018 h 1013 h (same order as energy of
elementary excitations)
Nature of scattering Electronic Nuclear, Isotropic, no angular dependent

by atoms Form factor dependence on [sin]/ factor Irregular variation with atomic
Linear increase of scattering amplitude with number. Dependent on nuclear structure
atomic number, calculable from known and only determined empirically by
electronic configurations experiment
Magnetic Scattering Very weak additional scattering ( 10-5) Additional scattering by atoms withmagnetic
moments (same magnitude as nuclear
scattering) Amplitude of scattering falls off
with increasing [sin ]/
Absorption Very large, true absorption much larger than Absorption usually very small (exceptions
coefficient scattering Gd, Cd, B …) and less than scattering abs
abs  102 - 103  10-1
increases with atomic number
Method of Detection Solid State Detector, Image Plate Proportional 3He counter
COMPARATIVE PROPERTIES OF
ELECTRON & NEUTRON SCATTERING
Neutron Scattering Eletron Scattering

X-ray, Electron and Neutron Diffraction
ADVANTAGES OF X-RAY
DIFFRACTION
ADVANTAGES OF ELECTRON
DIFFRACTION
ADVANTAGES OF NEUTRON
DIFFRACTION
ADVANTAGES OF ELECTRON DIFFRACTION
METHOD OVER X-RAY METHOD
The electron diffraction method has got several technical advantages over
X-ray method. Some of the advantages are given
X-ray method cannot bebuesloewd :under reduced pressure, while electron diffraction
method can be applied even to gases and vapors under reduced pressure. In other
electron diffraction is of special importance for studying vapors and liquids which
boil under atmospheric pressure with decomposition.
The number of scattering particles are much less in gas and hence the exposure
required in the x-ray method are quit long, but on account of the greater intensity
of electron beam, the time of exposure is reduced from a few hours (required for
the X-ray method) to a fraction of second.
COMPARISON OF SOURCE
CHARACTERISTICS
Schematic X-ray and neutron diffraction pattern for MnO
Extra peaks are only present in the neutron diffraction pattern at temperatures
where the unpaired spins are ordered (below Neel temperature)
MnO, NiO and FeO order antiferromagnetically After taking into account the
arrangement of unpaired spins the unit cell is twice as big as the atomic
arrangement would suggest. So you get extra peaks in the neutron diffraction
pattern.

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Diffraction Techniques

The electron diffraction method has got several technical

• Coherent neutron diffraction (Bragg scattering by crystal

• The possibility of using the scattering of neutrons as a

James Chadwick: Nobel Prize in physics 1935

Enrico Fermi: Nobel Prize in physics 1938

The energy of thermal neutron is comparable to the

where atoms … and what atoms

Spin angular momentum (Spin)

• The scattering length of neutron is independent of atomic number

Spin: polarization is possible

• Nondestructive • Molecular Vibrations and Lattice modes

• Can be used in extremes • Magnetic excitations

Neutrons have a Magnetic Moment! The Wavelengths of neutrons are similar to

Neutrons are neutral particle hence can pass large

Energy change and momentum transfer occur from

 Uses a cascade effect from

 Utilizes the properties of the neutron.

Neutrons allow easy access to atoms that are usually

Wavelength Characteristic line spectra such as Cu K  Continuous wavelength band, or single 

Nature of scattering Electronic Nuclear, Isotropic, no angular dependent

Neutron Scattering Eletron Scattering

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