Scattering of slow neutrons by molecules

Abstract

The scattering of neutrons from a rotating rigid molecule has been analysed for incident neutron energy of the same order of magnitude as the rotational level separations, without making any approximations.

When the energy of the incident neutron is large, the method of Zemach and Qlauber (1956) of using the rotator as a model for a spherical top molecule, has been justified.

The inclusion of zero-point vibrations have been considered briefly.