Neutrons and Neutron Spectroscopy

Summary

This chapter describes the benefits of neutron spectroscopy as a probe of local structure, outlining the principles of the technique and its means of measurement. It concentrates on inelastic neutron scattering (INS), which is the most widely used neutron scattering local structural probe. INS is a powerful tool by which to study hydrogen‐containing materials. The chapter discusses the advantages and limitations of INS at the present time, as well as forthcoming developments, including improvements in instrumentation and data acquisition electronics. New developments in neutronics (neutron guides and moderator design), together with multiple‐incident‐energies choppers and data acquisition electronics, will increase the efficiency of INS instruments.