x-ray diffraction

x-ray diffraction

In 2011 our group, using support form the Defense Micoelectronics Agency, acquired a Malvern-Panalytical Empyrean-1 four-circle x-ray diffractometer. Since then, the instrument was upgraded to the Empyrean-2 configuration with a a large collection of incident-beam and diffracted-beam optics. Configurations on the front end of interest include: Bragg-Brentano, double cross-slit collimation, Goeble mirror, high definition Bragg-Brentano (BBHD), hybrid mirror + 2-bounce Ge monochromator, and micro-snout collimation. Diffracted beam options include parallel plate collimation (0.27°, 0.18°, and 0.09°), a Ge analyzer crystal, a graphite monochromator, and programmable anti-scatter slits. Detector options include a proportional counter (parallel beam), a Pixcel area detector (hybrd), and an Xcelerator strip deteector.  The stage is a 6-axis Eulerian cradle, 3 circles and 3 orthogonal translation axes.

All group members use the Empyrean extensively, but George Kotsonis is one of the group super-users.