Neutron diffraction

A description is given of the progress over the past few years of neutron diffraction, with particular reference to its applications, often alongside complementary x-ray studies, to investigations in structural crystallography and the physics of the solid state. This outlines the relevant principles of neutron scattering by nuclei and magnetic atoms and the way in which these processes determine the intensities of diffracted beams from single crystals and polycrystalline material. Details are given of the experimental determinations of the fundamental scattering amplitudes and cross sections used in diffraction work, and tables of these quantities are included. A review of the physical and chemical problems on which significant information has already been obtained by neutron diffraction groups these problems under three main headings: structural investigations involving light elements, distinctions between atoms of closely similar atomic number, and studies of magnetic materials with particular reference to ferro-, antiferro- and ferri-magnetism. A list of about 150 references is appended.