Quasi-Elastic Neutron Scattering Virtual Lab

This short, targeted simulations was adapted from the full-length Materials Science with Neutrons simulation.

Are you curious to find out what happens inside a battery without any fear of breaking it? In this simulation, you will learn the basics of neutrons and how they can be used as probes in materials science. You will get to perform experiments in a modern large-scale research facility that requires special permission to enter. Observe the principles of neutron diffraction Neutrons are subatomic particles found in the nucleus of most atoms. Through a high-energy process neutrons can be expelled from atoms to produce a free neutron beam. You cannot see the neutron beam with the naked eye but it can penetrate through almost any material. In our experiment it interacts weakly with the sample as it passes through it before finally being recorded in a detector. Perform a QENS experiment When neutrons hit the sample, they sometimes change energy due to inelastic or quasi-elastic processes in the sample. Understand the principles of quasielastic neutron scattering (QENS) through an interactive animation and perform an experiment on your battery sample. Will you be able to use these results to explain why the battery doesn't work properly in the cold, and will you be able to assist the scientists on their mission in the Arctic?