neutron diffraction techniques

Neutron diffraction is a scientific method used to study the structure of materials at an atomic level. It involves directing a beam of neutrons—subatomic particles with no electric charge—at a sample. As neutrons pass through, they scatter off the atoms in the material, creating a pattern that reveals how atoms are arranged. This technique helps scientists understand the positions of different elements, including light atoms like hydrogen, often challenging for other methods like X-ray diffraction. Neutron diffraction is valuable in fields like materials science, chemistry, and biology for analyzing complex structures such as proteins and advanced materials.