Sum rules including first order quantum corrections for neutron scattering experiments on isotopic mixtures of monatomic fluids

The sum rules for neutron scattering experiments on monatomic isotopic mixtures are studied. The scattering is separated into a self part and a distinct part rather than into an incoherent part and a coherent part. Exact expressions for the moments are derived in terms of polynomials in ? ². The coefficients in these polynomials are sums of averages of hermitean operators that have a classical analogue. For the interpretation, the coefficients are approximated including first order quantum corrections.

It is argued that the separation into coherent and incoherent scattering is not justified in the presence of ‘isotopic incoherence’. Approximate expressions for the sum rules are proposed, in which combined averages (over the isotopic composition) appear of the scattering amplitudes and masses of the scattering atoms. These expressions, including first order quantum corrections to the sum rules, are not available in the literature.

The importance of correct averaging over the isotopic composition of expressions that involve scattering amplitudes and masses is discussed for the case of a maximum incoherent mixture of ³⁶Ar and ⁴⁰Ar.