Liquid-structure analysis by energy-scanning X-ray diffraction: mercury

Quantitative liquid-structure analysis using energy-scanning diffraction rather than the traditional angle-scanning diffraction is introduced. In the experimental method, white radiation and a solid-state detector are employed. This new method is inherently faster and less beset with problems of experimental instability than are angular-scanning methods. However, many differences in analysis are introduced. In particular, measurement of the primary beam spectrum, the nature of the absorption and dispersion corrections, details of the polarization correction, the ranges of the atomic scattering factor and of the incoherent scattering term, and the mating of different scattering regimes all require special consideration. Application of the new instrumental method and the reconstructed analytical procedure to liquid mercury at room temperature has produced a result in agreement with other recent studies.