Small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering

Cy M. Jeffries*, Jan Ilavsky, Anne Martel, Stephan Hindrichs, Andreas Meyer, Jan Skov Pedersen, Anna V. Sokolova, Dmitri I Svergun*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaperJournal articleResearchpeer-review

105 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Small-angle scattering (SAS) is a technique that is able to probe the structural organization of matter and quantify its response to changes in external conditions. X-ray and neutron scattering profiles measured from bulk materials or materials deposited at surfaces arise from nanostructural inhomogeneities of electron or nuclear density. The analysis of SAS data from coherent scattering events provides information about the length scale distributions of material components. Samples for SAS studies may be prepared in situ or under near-native conditions and the measurements performed at various temperatures, pressures, flows, shears or stresses, and in a time-resolved fashion. In this Primer, we provide an overview of SAS, summarizing the types of instrument used, approaches for data collection and calibration, available data analysis methods, structural information that can be obtained using the method, and data depositories, standards and formats. Recent applications of SAS in structural biology and the soft-matter and hard-matter sciences are also discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Article number70
JournalNature Reviews Methods Primers
Volume1
Issue1
Number of pages39
ISSN2662-8449
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 12 Oct 2021

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