Abstract
The overlap of biology and neutron scattering remains a relatively narrow domain of research. This is partly due to the a priori maladjustment between real space problems and methods based on spatial and temporal correlations. In addition, some major assets of neutron scattering, such as isotopic substitution, can be tricky with biological molecules. More generally, a mutual lack of knowledge of the two concerned communities precluded potential rich interactions in early times. However, the situation changed to the point that, today, biology represents a substantial part of the research activity at neutron facilities. The purpose of this introduction is not to present one more overview of the subject of “neutron scattering” (excellent comprehensive articles are easily accessible to the interested readers [1–4]), but rather to facilitate the reading of the present book by introducing a few neutron scattering notions that may be useful for the community of biologists eventually less familiar with this technique.
Highlights
The overlap of biology and neutron scattering remains a relatively narrow domain of research
This is partly due to the a priori maladjustment between real space problems in biology and scattering methods, which are based on spatial and temporal correlations
Recently, the rapid and huge development of neutron instruments, sample environments, tools for data treatment, and computer simulations [6,7] changed the situation to the point that nowadays biology represents a substantial part of the research activity at neutron facilities
Summary
Biology is a wide field whose subjects of study are as diverse as populations, organisms, cells, or macromolecules. This is partly due to the a priori maladjustment between real space problems in biology and scattering methods, which are based on spatial and temporal correlations. This under-utilization may be due to communication difficulties between physicists and biologists. There is a “risk” for neutron users to move from biology issues to macromolecular physics This situation is due to more “practical” reasons, such as difficulties of access, since neutron beams are produced only at nuclear reactors or spallation sources and are not accessible on a laboratory bench. Recently, the rapid and huge development of neutron instruments, sample environments, tools for data treatment, and computer simulations [6,7] changed the situation to the point that nowadays biology represents a substantial part of the research activity at neutron facilities
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