A Noval X-ray powder Diffractometer Detector System

A new proportional counter x-ray detector with application for powder diffractometry has been developed. The new detector collects virtually the entire diffraction spectrum simultaneously with good efficiency and angular resolution. Thus, the powder spectrum of a small sample can be obtained much faster than with film or a conventional powder diffractometer. The detector read-out is digital and is interfaced to a dedicated minicomputer. A description of the detector system is discussed and preliminary results are presented.