Magneto-electric operators in neutron scattering from electrons

Abstract

We succeed in deriving an exact expression for the magnetic interaction of neutrons and electrons including magneto-electric operators, allowed in the absence of a centre of inversion symmetry. Central characters are a spin anapole and an orbital (toroidal) analogue, in addition to familiar parity-even operators like the magnetic moment. A simulation of neutron diffraction by antiferromagnetic copper oxide makes full use of information inferred from a thorough investigation with resonant x-ray Bragg diffraction.