High-energy double-crystal X-ray diffraction

High-energy double-crystal X-ray diffraction has previously only been demonstrated with radioactive sources. The advantages of very low absorption, no extinction and high resolution have been clearly demonstrated in a wide variety of experiments. The experiments reported here are the first to be performed with a high-energy X-ray tube providing radiation up to 160 keV. Mosaic spread has been studied by double-crystal rocking curves in silicon, germanium and calcium flouride in very thick samples. Mosaic spreads from 1'' arc to several minutes of arc have been measured in 10 mm thick fluorite, in 25 mm thick germanium and in silicon. Routine non-destructive characterization of bulk crystalline materials is possible and many new opportunities will become available when high-energy storage rings make bright synchrotron radiation available in this part of the electromagnetic spectrum.