Preface

Abstract

The neutron is a chargeless particle and its interaction with the electrons of a non-magnetic condensed matter system can in general be neglected. Instead the neutron is scattered by atomic nuclei via a weak interaction, the corresponding scattering cross-sections being known precisely for all nuclei. Once, therefore, atomic trajectories have been determined, the full spectral profile S(Q,ω) can be calculated and compared directly with measurement, the combination of numerical and experimental data giving detailed insight into the structure and dynamics of ever more complex systems. The way in which experimentalists can use modern simulation tools to better understand their experimental data was the theme of the summer school of the JDN18 held in Rémuzat in the Drôme Provençale in June 2010 and the articles in this collection have been produced following the school.