On the Peak Profiles in Energy-Dispersive Powder X-ray Diffraction with Synchrotron Radiation

The peak profiles of standard reference materials have been investigated with energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction at a synchrotron source. Keeping the detector dead time below 2%, the peak profiles were essentially pure Gaussians independent of energy in the range investigated. Plastic deformation of ductile f.c.c.-based materials (Cu₃Au and Au) leads to increased Lorentzian contributions to the peak profiles. A single-line profile analysis was performed to obtain estimates of size and strain; reasonable values were found.