USING ENERGY DISCRIMINATION IN REDUCTION OF FLUORESCENCE RADIATION IN X-RAY-POWDER DIFFRACTION

In X-ray powder diffraction, the problem of severe fluorescence radiation from the sample is often confronted. This causes an unacceptable background in the diffraction pattern. The present paper describes a way of reducing fluorescence by utilizing the limited possibilities of energy discrimination of a scintillation counter. While the energy discrimination is not able to separate fully Cr and Cu radiation, for example, it does provide a means of reducing the contribution from fluorescence in a useful and convenient way.