Franck-Condon picture of incoherent neutron scattering.

Kneller, Gerald R · Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A · 2018

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

A spectroscopic interpretation of incoherent neutron scattering experiments is presented which is based on Franck-Condon-type probabilities for scattering-induced transitions between quantum states of the target. The resulting expressions for the scattering functions enable an energy landscape-oriented analysis of neutron scattering spectra as well as a physical interpretation of Van Hove's space-time correlation functions in the quantum regime that accounts for the scattering kinematics. They suggest moreover a combined analysis of quasielastic and elastic scattering that become inseparable for complex systems with slow power-law relaxation.