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.