Patterns of diffuse neutron scattering from thin films are calculated from a perturbation expansion based on the distorted-wave Born approximation. Diffuse fringes can be categorized into three main types: those that occur at constant values of the incident or scattered neutron wavevectors, and those for which the neutron wavevector transfer perpendicular to the film is constant. The variation of intensity along these fringes can be used to deduce the spectrum of surface roughness for the film and the degree of correlation between the film's rough surfaces.

Date Published: 23 November 1992
PDF: 12 pages
Proc. SPIE 1738, Neutron Optical Devices and Applications, (23 November 1992); doi: 10.1117/12.130638

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 1738:
Neutron Optical Devices and Applications
Charles F. Majkrzak; James L. Wood, Editor(s)