The early development of neutron diffraction: science in the wings of the Manhattan Project

摘要: Although neutron diffraction was first observed using radioactive decay sources shortly after the discovery of neutron, it only with availability higher intensity beams from nuclear reactors, constructed as part Manhattan Project, that systematic investigation Bragg scattering became possible. Remarkably, at a time when war effort singularly focused on development atomic bomb, groups working Oak Ridge and Chicago carried out key measurements recognized future utility quite independent its contributions to measurement cross sections. Ernest O. Wollan, Lyle B. Borst Walter H. Zinn were all able observe in 1944 X-10 graphite reactor CP-3 heavy water reactor. Subsequent work by Wollan Clifford G. Shull, who joined Wollan's group 1946, laid foundations for widespread application an important research tool.