Small-angle neutron and X-ray scattering to probe mesoscopic density fluctuations in condensed matter

Mesoscopic density fluctuations in various technologically relevant materials have been investigated using small-angle neutron (SANS) and X-ray (SAXS). Effects of such density fluctuations on some physical properties of materials have been tried to be correlated in few cases. For this purpose a double crystal based SANS facility has been indigenously developed. This facility has been used for studies of various porous materials, ceramics, rocks, etc. Experimental results, in some cases, have been supported by Monte Carlo based simulation. (author)