Single-Crystal Diffractometer | SCD

The SCD is used to determine the crystal and magnetic structures of a wide variety of materials. Neutrons are scattered from the crystalline sample onto a 3He gas-filled area detector that is position sensitive and measures 25 centimeters on each side. The wavelengths of the neutrons are determined by their time-of-flight from the source to the detector. To cover all of the reciprocal space for a particular crystal, the sample is mounted on a goniometer. For most crystals, about 10 to 15 histograms will provide a full data set./p>

SCD can be used to study the structure of organometallic molecules, crystal-structure changes at solid-solid phase transitions, magnetic spin structures, twinned or multiple crystals, texture in polycrystalline materials, and structural or magnetic modifications of materials under pressures up to 20,000 atmospheres. The instrument measures a large fraction of reciprocal space at one time and therefore can be used for studies of unknown incommensurate structures and diffuse scattering.