Deep Inelastic Neutron Scattering in the Study of Atomic Momentum Distributions

The electron-volt spectrometer (EVS) at the pulsed neutron source facility (ISIS) is being developed for the study of atomic momentum distributions. Neutrons with energies in the range 1 to 100 eV are incident on the sample, and the time-of-flight (TOF) spectrum of the scattered beam is measured by an array of fixed detectors. A resonant foil difference technique is used to yield a set of TOF spectra for those neutrons scattered into a fixed energy and through fixed angles. Information on the momentum distribution of the target nuclei can be deduced within an impulse approximation in a procedure analogous to that in Compton scattering of electrons by photons. Crystalline compounds containing aligned hydrogen bonds and other hydrogenous compounds are of particular interest owing to the high cross-section of the proton at these neutron energies. With improved statistical accuracy of the data it is anticipated that deviations of the proton's potential from a harmonic potential may be determined. Non-hydrogenous systems have also been investigated. A description is given of the basic theory and interpretive method. Data obtained on numerous systems are presented and discussed.