Laue image analysis. III. The collection and analysis of deliberately streaked Laue exposures

The translation of the detector in its plane during the collection of a Laue diffraction pattern will draw out each diffraction spot into a streak, where the position along the streak can be related to the time course. Systematic and reliable methods of data collection and analysis have been developed to extend and optimize the amount of data obtained from streaked Laue exposures for use in time-resolved studies. Relative times along the streaks are readily established and the merging together of streak data from different crystals, with different streak lengths and exposure times, shows that absolute times can also be accurately established. While other methods of time-resolved data collection may be more appropriate in many cases, the development of the streak method does provide an attractive alternative, particularly for fast reactions where crystal disorder remains small throughout the time course.