Editing Neutron diffraction (section)

==Instrumental and sample requirements==
The technique requires a source of neutrons. Neutrons are usually produced in a [[nuclear reactor]] or [[spallation source]]. At a [[research reactor]], other components are needed, including a [[crystal monochromator]] (in the case of thermal neutrons), as well as filters to select the desired neutron wavelength. Some parts of the setup may also be movable. For the long-wavelength neutrons, crystals cannot be used and gratings are used instead as diffractive optical components.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Hadden |first1=Elhoucine |last2=Iso |first2=Yuko |last3=Kume |first3=Atsushi |last4=Umemoto |first4=Koichi |last5=Jenke |first5=Tobias |last6=Fally |first6=Martin |last7=Klepp |first7=Jürgen |last8=Tomita |first8=Yasuo |title=Photosensitive Materials and their Applications II |chapter=Nanodiamond-based nanoparticle-polymer composite gratings with extremely large neutron refractive index modulation |editor-first1=Robert R |editor-first2=Yasuo |editor-first3=John T |editor-first4=Inmaculada |editor-last1=McLeod |editor-last2=Tomita |editor-last3=Sheridan |editor-last4=Pascual Villalobos |date=2022-05-24 |chapter-url=https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/conference-proceedings-of-spie/12151/1215109/Nanodiamond-based-nanoparticle-polymer-composite-gratings-with-extremely-large-neutron/10.1117/12.2623661.full |publisher=SPIE |volume=12151 |pages=70–76 |doi=10.1117/12.2623661|bibcode=2022SPIE12151E..09H |isbn=9781510651784 |s2cid=249056691 }}</ref>  At a spallation source, the time of flight technique is used to sort the energies of the incident neutrons (higher energy neutrons are faster), so no monochromator is needed, but rather a series of aperture elements synchronized to filter neutron pulses with the desired wavelength.

The technique is most commonly performed as [[powder diffraction]], which only requires a polycrystalline powder. Single crystal work is also possible, but the crystals must be much larger than those that are used in single-crystal [[X-ray crystallography]]. It is common to use crystals that are about 1&nbsp;mm<sup>3</sup>.<ref name="Picc">Paula M. B. Piccoli, Thomas F. Koetzle, Arthur J. Schultz "Single Crystal Neutron Diffraction for the Inorganic Chemist—A Practical Guide" Comments on Inorganic Chemistry 2007, Volume 28, 3-38. {{doi|10.1080/02603590701394741}}</ref>

The technique also requires a device that can [[Neutron detection|detect the neutrons]] after they have been scattered.

Summarizing, the main disadvantage to neutron diffraction is the requirement for a nuclear reactor. For single crystal work, the technique requires relatively large crystals, which are usually challenging to grow. The advantages to the technique are many - sensitivity to light atoms, ability to distinguish isotopes, absence of radiation damage,<ref name="Picc" /> as well as a penetration depth of several cm<ref name="iaea" />