Colloidal systems and soft materials are well suited to neutron scattering, and the community has readily adopted elastic scattering techniques to investigate their structure. Due to their unique properties, neutrons may also be used to characterize the dynamics of soft materials over a wide range of length and time scales in situ. Both static structures and an understanding of how molecules move about their equilibrium positions is essential if we are to deliver on the promise of rationally designing soft materials. In this review we introduce the basics of neutron spectroscopy and explore the ways in which inelastic neutron scattering can be used to study colloidal and soft materials. Illustrative examples are chosen that highlight the phenomena suitable for investigation using this suite of techniques.

中文翻译：

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用于表征胶体和软物质系统动力学的非弹性中子散射和光谱方法

胶体系统和软材料非常适合中子散射，并且业界很容易采用弹性散射技术来研究它们的结构。由于其独特的性质，中子也可用于表征软材料在各种长度和时间尺度上的原位动力学。如果我们要实现合理设计软材料的承诺，静态结构和对分子如何在其平衡位置移动的理解都是至关重要的。在这篇综述中，我们介绍了中子光谱学的基础知识，并探讨了如何使用非弹性中子散射来研究胶体和软材料。选择说明性示例来突出适合使用这套技术进行研究的现象。