Angular dependence of x-ray and neutron scattering factors

Why are neutron scattering factors essentially independent of $2\theta$, whereas X-ray scattering factors drop off with increasing $2\theta$ ?

• Well, the interactions that lead to the scattering are different. Do you understand why the X-ray scattering factor drops off with increasing $2\theta$? If so, do those fields/potentials/forces apply to neutron scattering? – Jon Custer May 26 '15 at 15:03
• In X-ray scattering you have a dipolar electronic interaction, in neutron scattering presumably it is colour force. I don't really understand why there is a drop off in XRD. – J. LS May 26 '15 at 16:13
• Assume neutron scattering is sold hard spheres. Calculate the differential scattering cross section. You will find that it is flat vs either energy transferred or angle scattered (they are equivalent). For the x-Ray case there are many derivations online... – Jon Custer May 26 '15 at 16:41
• What search terms did you use ? I couldn't find anything which helped me to understand it – J. LS May 26 '15 at 17:00
• 'X-Ray scattering cross section' worked just fine for me. – Jon Custer May 26 '15 at 17:02