High resolution X-ray diffraction using a high brilliance source, with rapid data analysis by auto-fitting

In a production environment in particular, fast data collection and analysis, which are also highly reliable, are desirable. Measurement can be speeded up by increasing the diffracted intensity, thus reducing the time required to measure it reliably. Increased intensity with a smaller beam footprint at the sample have been achieved in a double-crystal diffractometer by the use of a novel ellipsoidal mirror working by total external reflection, positioned before the reference crystal. To optimise the performance of the mirror and provide high brightnesses, an X-ray source with a very small focal spot is required. Such a high brightness source has been made that uses electromagnetic focusing of the electron beam onto the target. Rapid data analysis is achieved by the use of an auto-fitting program that employs a genetic algorithm and the full dynamical theory of X-ray diffraction. Choice of an appropriate error function produces a deep global minimum while the genetic algorithm avoids convergence on local minima. From the model that produces the best fit, samples parameters such as layer thickness and alloy composition are extracted with quantified goodness of fit.