The various methods of X-ray absorption spectroscopy available at ANKA reveal the presence and the concentration of elements in a sample, as well as their chemical and geometrical environment and their magnetisation. The double crystal monochromator employed yields an energy resolution of 2 x 10 -4 . There are two principal modes of detection, i.e., transmission and fluorescence measurements. The transmission technique is done using ionisation chambers and samples prepared to a thickness of typically less than 0.1 mm. The fluorescence radiation is sampled using an energy dispersive detector.
Samples can be solid or liquid.
Sample environment can be controlled with respect to temperature and atmosphere. I.e., temperatures can be kept constant between 20 and 300 K with an accuracy of 0.1 K, and samples may be investigated under vacuum or inert gas atmosphere.