Area detector based photon correlation in the regime of short data batches: Data reduction for dynamic x-ray scattering

A method for reducing time sequences of raw scattering images to intensity time-autocorrelation functions is presented. The procedure is based on the use of a charge coupled device (CCD) area detector, and optimized for opera ting in the regime of short data batches. Its application to x-ray photon c orrelation spectroscopy (XPCS) measurements is described in detail. Using a slow-scan CCD, we explain how to achieve data acquisition on a 30 ms or fa ster time scale, while simultaneously acquiring data from many coherence ar eas in parallel. The statistical uncertainties of the acquired XPCS data ar e quantified experimentally, and compared to the theoretically expected noi se levels of the correlation functions. (C) 2000 American Institute of Phys ics. [S0034-6748(00)03509-7].