Patent ID: 6844551

Claim:
A method of measuring a lattice constant, the method comprising: finding a general equation that expresses an arbitrary higher order Laue zone line on an x-y plane within a lattice constant range of a 0 −Δa≦a≦a 0 +Δa (where “a” is a lattice constant) on the basis of pattern information of a higher order Laue zone line developing in a standard sample having a lattice constant of a 0 , and calculating a pattern of a higher order Laue zone line in a case where the lattice constant is varied within the range of a 0 −Δa≦a≦a 0 +Δa from the general equation, and storing the pattern of the higher order Laue zone line of the standard sample and its lattice constant and the pattern of the higher order Laue zone line of the standard sample and its lattice constant in a case where the lattice constant of the standard sample is varied as a set of data in a storage device; and comparing a pattern of a higher order Laue zone line observed on a test sample to be measured with the pattern of the higher order Laue zone line in the set of data stored in the storage device and determining a lattice constant of the test sample to be measured from the most similar lattice constant in the set of data.