Incoherent neutron scattering from multi-element materials

In a neutron diffraction measurement, including small-angle scattering, there is generally a featureless (i.e. Q-independent) component due to incoherent scattering. This scattering contains no information about the atomic structure or structure on any scale. There may also be featureless scattering that arises from atomic disorder in multi-element materials. This scattering is sometimes referred to as compositional or mixture incoherent scattering. However, this designation is misleading. A much better designation is diffuse coherent scattering. Here the differences and distinguishing characteristics of incoherent scattering vis-a-vis diffuse coherent scattering due to atomic disorder are delineated and demonstrated experimentally.