High-resolution synchrotron x-ray diffraction from a Si(001) grating s
urface reveals resolution-limited grating interference peaks around ea
ch Bragg reflection. The peaks can be explained by kinematic scatterin
g theory using the concept of a grating form factor. The positions and
the intensities of the satellite peaks yield structural information s
uch as the period, the width, and the height of the gratings, as well
as its shape and it's orientation and registry with respect to substra
te lattice, and possible crystal strains.