N, M in phase - Pi // Oz

Spherical Neutron Polarimetry simulations. Case of mixed nuclear/magnetic signal : N and M in phase, Pi // Oz

The incident polarisation vector is chosen parallel to the Z axis, i.e. perpendicular to the scattering vector Q. The direction of the scattered polarisation is shown in red.

When N and M (in blue) are in phase, the polarisation rotates in the plane defined by the incident polarisation and the magnetic interaction vector, i.e. around the X axis in the example shown. The angle of rotation depends on the ratio of the amplitudes of N and M (e.g. π/2 when M=N). We can see that the cross-section does not necessarily depend on the relative amplitudes of the nuclear and magnetic structure factors.