Uses of Neutron Diffraction
Neutron diffraction is a technique used in conjunction with X-ray diffraction to provide physical and magnetic structure information about the compound. Neutrons diffract in much the same manner as x-rays to provide physical structure information above the ordering temperature. Neutrons also have a magnetic moment, meaning they interact magnetically with the electrons in the crystal lattice. Because of this interaction neutrons will diffract differently below the ordering temperature, providing information about the magnetic structure[1]. These differences are illustrated below.
Figure 1: Neutron diffraction patterns for MnO above(top) and below the ordering temperature[1]. Note the disappearance of certain peaks above the ordering temperature.
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Figure 2: Diagram of the structure of MnO showing the differences between the magnetic and chemical unit cell determined by the diffraction pattern in Figure 1 as well as diagramming the anti-ferromagnetic ordering between the planes [1].
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