Comparison of time-of-flight and MIEZE neutron spectroscopy of H₂O

We report a comparison of modulation of intensity with zero effort (MIEZE), a neutron spin–echo technique, and neutron time-of-flight (ToF) spectroscopy, a conventional neutron scattering method. The evaluation of the respective recorded signals, which can be described by the intermediate scattering function I(Q, τ) (MIEZE) and the dynamic structure factor S(Q, E) (ToF), involves a Fourier transformation that requires detailed knowledge of the detector efficiency, instrumental resolution, signal background and range of validity of the spin–echo approximation. It is demonstrated that data obtained from pure water align well within the framework presented here, thereby extending the applicability of the MIEZE technique beyond the spin–echo approximation and emphasizing the complementarity of the two methods. Computational methods, such as molecular dynamics simulations, are highlighted as essential for enhancing the understanding of complex systems. Together, MIEZE and ToF provide a powerful framework for investigating dynamic processes across different time and energy domains, with particular attention required to ensure identical sample geometries for meaningful comparisons.