Recently developed high resolution X-ray methods have been used to cha
racterize the structure of Pt/LaF3/Si samples. The asymptotic Bragg di
ffraction is used for the study of the LaF3/Si interface and the grazi
ng-incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD) for the study of the LaF3, textu
re. The LaF3/Si interface was found to be thin and smooth with the int
erface thickness value 0.55 +/- 0.1 nm. The essential extra-broadening
of the main peak in diffraction experiments for samples with the top
platinum layer is explained by the small angle scattering of the X-ray
beam on the rough Pt film. The LaF3-film domain structure is derived
from GIXD data. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.