MODEL-INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS OF INELASTIC-NEUTRON-SCATTERING DATA AT HIGH MOMENTUM-TRANSFER

A model-independent procedure is proposed which allows us to obtain th e asymptotic scaling function at infinite momentum transfer and a comp rehensive assessment of deviations of deep inelastic-neutron-scatterin g data from a perfect scaling behavior, which are due to the finite va lues of energy and momentum transfers to the target atom. The procedur e is applied to simulated and experimental data on polycrystalline ZrH 2 at T=20 and 290 K. We observe that the impulse approximation, valid for infinite energy and momentum transfers, is not yet completely reac hed at the finite momentum transfer values q of neutron experiments ev en at q similar or equal to 60 Angstrom(-1). It is argued that, beyond the specific case of ZrH2, this procedure can be used for the descrip tion of deep inelastic-neutron scattering from other molecular and ato mic systems.