Discover
/
Article

Neutron Scattering in Condensed‐Matter Physics

JAN 01, 1985
Because neutrons interact with atomic nuclei and magnetic fields in a sample, rather than electron clouds, they provide information that is complementary to that probed by electrons and photons.
John D. Axe
Robert M. Nicklow

Since its discovery 50 years ago, the neutron has commanded public attention and respect. As an intermediary in nuclear fission, it is woven into the political fabric of modern life and seems destined to remain so. But the neutron plays many other, less prominent and controversial roles as well. It has, for example, technological applications in fields as diverse as logging oil wells, detecting art forgeries and doping electronic semiconductor materials, as D. Allan Bromley has reviewed in these pages.

This article is only available in PDF format

References

  1. 1. D. A. Bromley, PHYSICS TODAY, December 1983, p. 30.

  2. 2. H. Ikeda, K. Hirakawa, Solid State Comm. 7, 529 (1974).https://doi.org/SSCOA4

  3. 3. S. Fishman, A. Aharony, J. Phys. C 12, L729 (1979).https://doi.org/JPSOAW

  4. 4. For a general review of phase transformations in dilute magnets, see R. J. Birgeneau, R. A. Cowley, G. Shirane, H. Yoshizawa, J. Stat. Phys. 34, 817 (1984).https://doi.org/JSTPBS

  5. 5. S. M. Shapiro, C. R. Fincher, Jr., A. C. Palumbo, R. D. Parks, Phys. Rev. B 24, 6661 (1981).https://doi.org/PRBMDO

  6. 6. See, for example, M. Steiner, J. Villain, C. G. Windsor, Adv. Phys. 25, 87 (1976). https://doi.org/ADPHAH
    Also, R. J. Birgeneau, G. Shirane, PHYSICS TODAY, December 1978, p. 78.

  7. 7. H. Yoshizawa, K. Hirakawa, S. K. Satija, G. Shirane, Phys. Rev. B 23, 2298 (1981); https://doi.org/PRBMDO
    S. E. Nagler, W. J. L. Buyers, R. L. Armstrong, B. Briat, Phys. Rev. B 27, 1784 (1983).https://doi.org/PRBMDO

  8. 8. R. Comés, B. Renker, L. Pintschovius, R. Currat, W. Gläser, G. Schreiber, Phys. Stat. Solidi 671, 171 (1975).

  9. 9. This work is reviewed by R. Currat in, Multicritical Phenomena, R. Pynn, A. T. Skjelltorp, eds., Plenum, New York (1983).

  10. 10. A comprehensive review is given by R. A. Cowley, Adv. Phys. 29, 1 (1980).https://doi.org/ADPHAH

  11. 11. For experimental work, see C. Stassis, J. Zaretsky, N. Wakabayashi, Phys. Rev. Lett. 41, 1726 (1978). https://doi.org/PRLTAO
    For theory, see K.‐M. Ho, C.‐L. Fu, B. N. Harmon, N. Weberf, D. R. Hamann, Phys. Rev. Lett. 49, 673 (1982).https://doi.org/PRLTAO

  12. 12. J. J. Rush, J. M. Rowe, D. Richter, Z. Physik B55, 283 (1984).

  13. 13. For ErRh4B4, see D. E. Moncton, D. B. McWhan, P. H. Schmidt, G. Shirane, W. Thomlinson, M. B. Maple, H. B. MacKay, L. D. Woolf, Z. Fisk, D. C. Johnston, Phys. Rev. Lett. 45, 2060 (1980); https://doi.org/PRLTAO
    S. K. Sinha, G. W. Crabtree, D. G. Hinks, H. A. Mook, Phys. Rev. Lett. 48, 950 (1982). https://doi.org/PRLTAO
    For HoMo6S8, see J. W. Lynn, R. Pynn, J. Joffrin, J. L. Ragazzoni, R. N. Shelton, Phys. Rev. B 27, 581 (1983). https://doi.org/PRBMDO
    See also PHYSICS TODAY, March 1982, p. 17.

  14. 14. S. M. Shapiro, G. Shirane, J. D. Axe, Phys. Rev. B 12, 4899 (1975); https://doi.org/PLRBAQ
    J. D. Axe, G. Shirane, Phys. Rev. Lett. 30, 214 (1973).https://doi.org/PRLTAO

  15. 15. W. H. Butler, H. G. Smith, N. Wakabayashi, Phys. Rev. Lett. 39, 1004 (1977).https://doi.org/PRLTAO

  16. 16. H. Suzuki, T. Ohtsuka, S. Kawarazaki, N. Kunitomi, R. M. Moon, R. M. Nicklow, Solid State Commun. 49, 1157 (1984).https://doi.org/SSCOA4

  17. 17. S. Kawarazaki, N. Kunitomi, Y. Morii, H. Suzuki, R. M. Moon, R. M. Nicklow, Solid State Commun. 49, 1147 (1984).https://doi.org/SSCOA4

  18. 18. J. W. Cable, S. A. Werner, G. P. Felcher, N. Wakabayashi, Phys. Rev. B 29, 1268 (1984).https://doi.org/PRBMDO

  19. 19. For a review, see J. P. McTague, M. Nielsen, L. Passell, in Chemistry and Physics of Solid Surfaces, Vol. III, R. Vanselow, ed., CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla. (1979), p. 439.

  20. 20. B. H. Grier, J. Eckert, H. Patterson, D. Richter, R. J. Rollefson, L. Passell, submitted to Phys. Rev. Letters.

  21. 21. H. Zabel, A. Magerl, A. J. Dianoux, J. J. Rush, Phys. Rev. Lett. 50, 2094 (1983).https://doi.org/PRLTAO

  22. 22. Major Facilities for Materials Research and Related Discipline, National Research Council (1984).
    See also PHYSICS TODAY, September, p. 57.

More about the Authors

John D. Axe. Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Robert M. Nicklow. Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Related content
/
Article
Figuring out how to communicate with the public can be overwhelming. Here’s some advice for getting started.
/
Article
Amid growing investment in planetary-scale climate intervention strategies that alter sunlight reflection, global communities deserve inclusive and accountable oversight of research.
/
Article
Although motivated by the fundamental exploration of the weirdness of the quantum world, the prizewinning experiments have led to a promising branch of quantum computing technology.
/
Article
As conventional lithium-ion battery technology approaches its theoretical limits, researchers are studying alternative architectures with solid electrolytes.
This Content Appeared In
pt-cover_1985_01.jpeg

Volume 38, Number 1

Get PT in your inbox

pt_newsletter_card_blue.png
PT The Week in Physics

A collection of PT's content from the previous week delivered every Monday.

pt_newsletter_card_darkblue.png
PT New Issue Alert

Be notified about the new issue with links to highlights and the full TOC.

pt_newsletter_card_pink.png
PT Webinars & White Papers

The latest webinars, white papers and other informational resources.

By signing up you agree to allow AIP to send you email newsletters. You further agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.