High-quality structure factors: benefits from the use of gamma radiation Original Research Article

The use of gamma radiation greatly reduces or eliminates many of the systematic errors limiting the accuracy of experimental structure factors. This applies especially for simple inorganic compounds with a high core-electron concentration. The emphasis of this paper will be on methodological aspects. The diffraction conditions offered by gamma radiation will be explored and contrasted with those met in X-ray and synchrotron radiation work. The reliability of experimentally determined thermal vibration parameters is highlighted. A central topic is devoted to the extinction problem. Other aspects include the sample quality, multiple diffraction and thermal diffuse scattering.