Photon and Neutron Scattering Spectroscopy and Its Applications in Condensed Matter
MIT OpenCourseWare offers this graduate-level nuclear engineering course on generating x-ray photons and neutrons and using them to probe condensed matter. Lectures cover modern sources of radiation, including synchrotron and reactor-based generation, followed by scattering spectroscopy techniques applied to material properties relevant to nuclear engineering research. Topics include diffraction, inelastic scattering, and structural and dynamic characterization of materials at the atomic scale. Course materials include lecture notes and readings drawn from current research literature, structured around the physics underlying each experimental method. The course assumes background in quantum mechanics and solid state physics and is aimed at students working toward research involving neutron and photon scattering instrumentation. As with all MIT OpenCourseWare offerings, materials are free to access with no certificate offered, under a Creative Commons license.