Neutron diffraction often the case that light (low Z) atoms contribute strongly to the diffracted intensity, even in the presence of large Z atoms. The scattering length varies from isotope to isotope rather than linearly with the atomic number. An element like vanadium strongly scatters X-rays, but its nuclei hardly scatters neutrons, which is why it is often used as a container material. Non-magnetic neutron diffraction is directly sensitive to the positions of the nuclei of the atoms. Unlike X-rays, neutrons scatter mostly from the nuclei of the atoms, which are tiny. Furthermore, there is no need for an atomic form factor
Isobar (nuclide) Isobar (nuclide) Isobars are atoms (nuclides) of different chemical elements that have the same number of nucleons. Correspondingly, isobars differ in atomic number (or number of protons) but have the same mass number. An example of a series of isobars would be S, Cl, Ar, K, and Ca. The nuclei of these nuclides all contain 40 nucleons; however, they contain varying numbers of protons and neutrons. The term "isobars" (originally "isobares") for nuclides was suggested by Alfred Walter Stewart in 1918. It is derived from the Greek word "isos", meaning "equal" and "baros", meaning "weight". The same mass number implies