Neutron scattering and the search for mechanisms of superconductivity

Neutron scattering is a direct probe of mass and magnetization density in s olids. We start with a brief review of experimental strategies for determin ing the mechanisms of superconductivity and how neutron scattering contribu ted towards our understanding of conventional superconductors. The remainde r of the article gives examples of neutron results with impact on the searc h for the mechanism of superconductivity in more recently discovered, 'exot ic', materials, namely the heavy fermion compounds and the layered cuprates , (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.