Patent ID: 7702071

Claim:
A method for successively performing a powder diffraction analysis of at least two powder samples being contained in sample holding means, wherein use is made of an apparatus comprising: a source of radiation being adapted to direct a radiation beam to a powder sample, a detector for detecting diffraction radiation of a powder sample, a drive means for effecting a movement of an irradiated powder sample during irradiation and detection with respect to the radiation beam, wherein the method comprises the steps of: irradiating a powder sample and detecting the diffraction radiation of the powder sample, arranging a further powder sample such that said radiation beam is directed to said further powder sample, and irradiating said further powder sample and detecting the diffraction radiation of said further sample, wherein during irradiation and detection of each sample the drive means effect a movement of the irradiated sample with respect to the radiation beam for the purpose of improving particle statistics, and wherein the sample holding means comprise a common multiple samples holder holding said at least two powder samples, wherein the drive means cause the common multiple samples holder to perform a precession movement with respect to the radiation beam during the step of irradiation and detection of a powder sample.