B. Grabcev et A. Tirziu, Optimization of resolution-intensity balance in angular-dispersive powder diffractometry at a synchrotron radiation source, J APPL CRYS, 32, 1999, pp. 641-653
A unique resolution function of angular-dispersive synchrotron radiation po
wder diffractometers, properly parameterized to be valid for any multicryst
al variant of this instrument, has been derived paying special attention to
the absolute correctness of the formulae by avoiding any unknown proportio
nality factors. Moreover, the concept of experimental performance criterion
has been proposed in an attempt to introduce a kind of 'worth-scale' for t
he results of measurements performed with a certain instrumental configurat
ion. Both entities were used in computer simulations to determine the most
convenient configuration of instrumental parameters that, apart from the fu
lfilment of the experiment seal, ensure an adequate counting rate. Several
case studies using different instrumental layouts, different single-crystal
monochromators and samples of different low symmetries and unit-cell volum
es were considered. The results offer reliable information that may be usef
ul for designing diffractometers as well as for conducting experiments.