Multiphonon mechanism of neutron scattering in glasses

A multiphonon mechanism of neutron scattering in glasses is considered. It is due to the interaction of the neutrons with strongly fluctuating double-well potentials characteristic of glasses which may be of importance at not too low temperatures (above the liquid helium temperature). The cross section of this process is calculated and its dependence on the temperature and the neutron energy transfer is found. It is shown that, contrary to the relaxation mechanism, the multiphonon mechanism produces a cross section without a maximum in its temperature dependence. This, as well as some other features, corresponds better to the experimental observations.