Optimizing the counting times for sample-in-container scattering experiments

What is it about?

In a beamline experiment time is limited, and the sample is usually held within a container. Often there is the temptation to skip measurement time on the "boring" empty container and instead focus time on the "interesting" sample-in-container measurement. The desired signal is, however, obtained only after the intensity measured for the empty contained is subtracted from the intensity measured for the sample in its container. In consequence, the statistical error on the desired signal is often compromised.

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Photo by Hal Gatewood on Unsplash

Photo by Hal Gatewood on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This paper gives a simple method for optimising the relative counting times for the sample-in-container and empty container parts of a fixed-duration scattering experiment in order to minimise the statistical error on the container-corrected intensity.

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