Advances in X-Ray Analysis

The 41st Annual Conference on Applications of X-Ray Analysis was held August 3-7, 1992, at the Sheraton Colorado Springs Hotel, Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Conference is recognized to be a major event in the x-ray analysis field, bringing together scientists and engineers from around the world to discuss the state of the art in x-ray applications as well as indications for further developments. In recent years, one of the most exciting and important developments in the x-ray field has been the applications of grazing-incidence x-rays for surface and thin-film analysis. To introduce the conference attendees to these leading-edge developments, the topic for the Plenary Session was Grazing-Incidence X­ Ray Characterization of Materials. The Conference had the privilege of inviting leading experts in the field of x-ray thin film analysis to deliver lectures at the Plenary Session. Dr. D. K. Bowen, University of Warwick, U. K. , opened the session with a lecture on Grazing Incidence X-Ray Scattering from Thin Films. He reviewed and compared grazing incidence diffraction, fluorescence and reflectivity techniques. Results of experimental and theoretical analysis were also discussed. Dr. B. Lenge1er, Forchungszentrum Ju1ich, Germany, followed with a lecture on Grazing Incidence Diffuse X-Ray Scattering from Thin Films. He concentrated on the use of newly developed off-specular reflectivity techniques for the determination of vertical roughness, lateral correlation length and contour exponent on surfaces.