Holography using thermal neutrons

The feasibility of atomic-resolution neutron holography in single crystals is discussed with regard to two different experimental setups. The first approach is based on point-like sources of slow neutrons and can be realized by taking advantage of the exceptionally large incoherent neutron-proton scattering cross section. Protons can be introduced in many metallic systems by way of dissolving hydrogen, and some technical problems in the application of this method are discussed. The second approach requires the recording of the interference between incident and scattered neutron beams by means of a point-like detector, which can be realized by introducing small concentrations of strongly absorbing isotopes in the crystal lattice under investigation.