Automatic absorption correction using intensity measurements from azimuthal scans

A new method of making absorption corrections from azimuthal scans is described. The method is designed to work on an automatic four-circle diffractometer for crystals with high absorption, of arbitrary shape and having at least four general equivalent reflexions. The data are treated by a procedure which expands the transmission factor as a Fourier series in the diffractometer angles, The variation of transmission with 2θ is simulated by tabulated values for a sphere. The method has been tested by correcting. for absorption in a crystal of SmAu₆ (μR = 5.9).