Anomalous neutron scattering in metallic hydrides and the validity of the convolution formalism

Recently, we reported the 'anomalous' neutron scattering behavior of protons in condensed systems, e.g. water, metallic hydrides, and organic materials as observed on the eVS instrument at ISIS. Very recently, Blostein et al. [Physica B 304 (2001) 357] presented a theoretical investigation criticizing the convolution method used for the analysis of the data obtained on eVS. In particular, they criticize the expression of the experimentally observed spectral intensity as a convolution with the absorption peak of the analyzer foil. They conclude that the usually employed data analysis procedure fails in determining the inferred momentum distribution widths of the peaks and leads to incorrect values of peak areas in the case of two (or more) overlapping recoil peaks, in particular those of H and D. However, experimental results on metallic hydrides show very clearly that the objections concerning the peak areas are not relevant for the results and for the associated subfemtosecond quantum entanglement effect under consideration, thus supporting the validity of the convolution formalism for investigating peak areas on the eVS instrument. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.