Quasielastic neutron scattering
Encyclopedia
Quasielastic neutron scattering (QENS) designates a limiting case of inelastic neutron scattering
, characterized by energy transfers being small compared to the incident energy of the scattered particles.
The term quasielastic scattering
was originally coined in nuclear physics. It was applied to thermal neutron scattering
since the early 1960s, notably in an article by Leon van Hove
and in a highly cited one by Pierre Gilles de Gennes.
QENS is typically investigated on high-resolution spectrometers (neutron backscattering
, neutron time-of-flight, neutron spin-echo).
There is a conference series entitled QENS. Conferences took place in Windsor (1992), San Sebastian (1993), Parma (1995), Nyköping (1998), Edinburgh (2000), Potsdam-Berlin (2002), Arcachon (2004), Bloomington (the first non-European venue, 2006), Paul-Scherrer-Institut Villigen (2009).
Inelastic neutron scattering
Inelastic neutron scattering is an experimental technique commonly used in condensed matter research to study atomic and molecular motion as well as magnetic and crystal field excitations....
, characterized by energy transfers being small compared to the incident energy of the scattered particles.
The term quasielastic scattering
Quasielastic scattering
In physics, quasielastic scattering designates a limiting case of inelastic scattering, characterized by energy transfers being small compared to the incident energy of the scattered particles.The term was originally coined in nuclear physics....
was originally coined in nuclear physics. It was applied to thermal neutron scattering
Neutron scattering
Neutron scattering,the scattering of free neutrons by matter,is a physical processand an experimental technique using this processfor the investigation of materials.Neutron scattering as a physical process is of primordial importance...
since the early 1960s, notably in an article by Leon van Hove
Léon Van Hove
Léon Van Hove was a Belgian physicist and a former Director General of CERN. He developed a scientific career spanning mathematics, solid state physics, elementary particle and nuclear physics to cosmology.-Biography:...
and in a highly cited one by Pierre Gilles de Gennes.
QENS is typically investigated on high-resolution spectrometers (neutron backscattering
Neutron backscattering
Neutron backscattering is one of several inelastic neutron scattering techniques. Backscattering from monochromator and analyzer crystals is used to achieve an energy resolution in the order of μeV...
, neutron time-of-flight, neutron spin-echo).
There is a conference series entitled QENS. Conferences took place in Windsor (1992), San Sebastian (1993), Parma (1995), Nyköping (1998), Edinburgh (2000), Potsdam-Berlin (2002), Arcachon (2004), Bloomington (the first non-European venue, 2006), Paul-Scherrer-Institut Villigen (2009).