Brilliance of X-rays

The interaction of the synchrotron light beam with an experimental sample must be recorded in some way so it can be fully analysed, giving information about the innermost structure of the sample. Many sorts of specially built detectors are used to measure the results of the experiments, be it X-ray scattering, diffraction, absorption and fluorescence or reflection.

An area detector used to observe scattered X-rays.

Data collection can often be carried out remotely for many hours at a time through fast computerised detectors. Advanced computing facilities also help in the analysis of measurements and, using databases of known materials, researchers can compare their results with proteins or molecules whose detailed structures have already been solved.

A fast linear detector capable of detecting 10⁸ X-rays per second.