Structure Factor for Neutron Scattering from Tunneling Systems in Metals

Abstract

We consider the effect of conduction electrons on the cross-section for neutron scattering from tunneling centers in metals. For a scatterer tunneling between two trap sites a crossover between inelastic scattering at low temperatures and quasi-elastic scattering at higher temperatures is obtained. The temperature dependence of the spectrum arises from the nonadiabatic response of the electrons to the tunneling transitions.