X-ray synchrotron radiation in physicochemical studies

Modern modifications of the conventional X-ray methods of physicochemical a nalysis (X-ray and electron spectroscopy, difraction methods, etc.) and new combined techniques using X-ray synchrotron radiation are considered. Uniq ue characteristics of synchrotron radiation are noted, namely, continuous s pectrum, exceptionally high intensity, polarisation, coherence, pulse natur e, etc. The key trends in the use of combined methods in chemistry and mate rials science including studies of substances under extreme conditions, stu dy of rapid processes, studies of objects with high space resolution are di scussed. The achievements in the applications of synchrotron radiation are illustrated by examples from various fields of chemistry and related scienc es.