Patent ID: 7409041
Filing Date: 2008-08-05
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of transmission mode X-ray diffraction analysis, comprising the steps of: (a) placing a sample to be analyzed on a substrate that is transparent to X-ray radiation and that is adapted for receiving and holding the sample, (b) generating X-ray radiation by means of an X-ray radiation source that generates a strip-shaped X-ray beam with a central part that extends along a path in a plane, (c) positioning the substrate and thereby the sample in an initial position in which the sample lies in the path of the strip-shaped X-ray beam whereby a slice of the sample is irradiated by the strip-shaped X-ray beam, (d) rotating the substrate and thereby the sample with respect to the initial position around a rotation axis over a predetermined rotation angle during a time interval, wherein the rotation axis is perpendicular to the substrate, (e) tilting the substrate and thereby the sample during the time interval, said tilting being with respect to the initial position and around a tilting axis perpendicular to the rotation axis over a tilting angle that the rotation axis forms with the plane through which the central part of the strip-shaped X-ray beam extends, wherein the tilting angle varies between a first predetermined value and a second predetermined value, (f) detecting with a detector the X-ray radiation transmitted through and diffracted by the sample during the time interval, and (g) analyzing the X-ray radiation that is detected.