Neutron thermalization inH2O andD2O with the use of a synthetic scattering function

Many neutron-physics calculations do not require a very detailed description of the atomic motions in a molecular system nor correlations between pairs (coherence effects). A synthetic scattering function describing the interaction of thermal neutrons with molecules allows a fast and reliable evaluation of the relevant cross sections. Predictions of this model are presented and compared with experimental results on ${\mathrm{H}}_2$O and ${\mathrm{D}}_2$O.