Diffraction on disordered materials using 'neutron-like' photons

In the past photon diffraction has been carried out mainly using the characteristic radiation from X-ray tubes in the energy range from about 8-20 keV. Comparison of these experiments with neutron diffraction results is difficult since in this energy range the photoelectric absorption is the predominant process.

The photoelectric absorption decreases with lambda(3), so increasing the energy to about 100 keV has a drastic effect on the absorption coefficient. Photons in the high energy rang can be obtained conveniently from modern synchrotron sources. High energy photon diffraction has additional further advantages, e.g. the larger accessible Q-range, the diminishing correction terms and the small scattering angles.

We report here on a feasibility study on glassy SiO2 and liquid N-Methylformamide (NMF).