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Title: Absolute x-ray energy calibration over a wide energy range using a diffraction-based iterative method

Journal Article · · Review of Scientific Instruments
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4722166· OSTI ID:22093633
;  [1];  [2]
  1. Mineral Physics Institute, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794 (United States)
  2. Department of Geosciences, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544 (United States)

In this paper, we report a method of precise and fast absolute x-ray energy calibration over a wide energy range using an iterative x-ray diffraction based method. Although accurate x-ray energy calibration is indispensable for x-ray energy-sensitive scattering and diffraction experiments, there is still a lack of effective methods to precisely calibrate energy over a wide range, especially when normal transmission monitoring is not an option and complicated micro-focusing optics are fixed in place. It is found that by using an iterative algorithm the x-ray energy is only tied to the relative offset of sample-to-detector distance, which can be readily varied with high precision of the order of 10{sup -5}-10{sup -6} spatial resolution using gauge blocks. Even starting with arbitrary initial values of 0.1 A, 0.3 A, and 0.4 A, the iteration process converges to a value within 3.5 eV for 31.122 keV x-rays after three iterations. Different common diffraction standards CeO{sub 2}, Au, and Si show an energy deviation of 14 eV. As an application, the proposed method has been applied to determine the energy-sensitive first sharp diffraction peak of network forming GeO{sub 2} glass at high pressure, exhibiting a distinct behavior in the pressure range of 2-4 GPa. Another application presented is pair distribution function measurement using calibrated high-energy x-rays at 82.273 keV. Unlike the traditional x-ray absorption-based calibration method, the proposed approach does not rely on any edges of specific elements, and is applicable to the hard x-ray region where no appropriate absorption edge is available.

OSTI ID:
22093633
Journal Information:
Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 83, Issue 6; Other Information: (c) 2012 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0034-6748
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English