Private: Neutron Diffraction of MnO
Data Analysis
- Show a plot of the Bragg scattering data at room temperature. These peaks are due to the chemical periodicity of MnO and aluminium .
- Show a plot of the Bragg scattering data at the lowest temperature you reached. Label the peaks due to the chemical periodicity of the MnO, and the ones due to the onset of antiferromagnetism.
- Integrate only the largest peak due to antiferromagnetism to find the total number of counts and normalize that value by the time of data collection or incident neutron flux.
- Plot the normalized, integrated peak value as a function of sample temperature. Fit your data with an error function (erf in pyton). Keep in mind that you may need to adjust the amplitude and offset of the curve.
- If all has gone well, you will have (re)discovered Antiferromagnetism in solids. Congratulations! You should begin to think about your formal gown or the tuxedo that you’ll wear to the Nobel Prize ceremony in Stockholm in December. In your acceptance speech, do not forget to acknowledge Drs. FitzGreen, Gaulin, Yuan and Chen and any other of the little people who played some small role in making this moment possible.