We have studied the muon neutrino and antineutrino quasi-elastic (QEL) scattering reactions ( ν μ n→ μ− p and [equation]) using a set of experimental data collected by the NOMAD Collaboration. We...

A new computer environment to perform simulations on synchrotron experiments has been designed. It performs ray-tracing simulations using the popular ray-tracing codeSHADOW. With this new application one can define, in a very easy and elegant way, one or several optical systems (beamlines) and perform calculations of the propagation of the X-ray beam through it. Many complementary tools and supplementary calculations improve and extend the functionality ofSHADOWto deal with complex optical system optimization, including compound optical elements, iterative calculations, some sample simulations, and implementing corrections for wave opticsviaa hybrid model.

Separation of size and strain effects on diffraction line profiles has been studied in a round robin involving laboratory instruments and synchrotron radiation beamlines operating with different radiation, optics, detectors and experimental configurations. The studied sample, an extensively ball milled iron alloy powder, provides an ideal test case, as domain size broadening and strain broadening are of comparable size. The high energy available at some synchrotron radiation beamlines provides the best conditions for an accurate analysis of the line profiles, as the size–strain separation clearly benefits from a large number of Bragg peaks in the pattern; high counts, reliable intensity values in low-absorption conditions, smooth background and data collection at different temperatures also support the possibility to include diffuse scattering in the analysis, for the most reliable assessment of the line broadening effect. However, results of the round robin show that good quality information on domain size distribution and microstrain can also be obtained using standard laboratory equipment, even when patterns include relatively few Bragg peaks, provided that the data are of good quality in terms of high counts and low and smooth background.