High-accuracy mass attenuation coefficients and X-ray absorption spectroscopy of zinc – the first X-ray Extended Range Technique-like experiment in Australia

The first X-ray Extended Range Technique (XERT)-like experiment at the Australian Synchrotron, Australia, is presented. In this mass attenuation coefficients are measured across an energy range including zinc K -absorption edge and absorption fine structure (XAFS). These high-accuracy measurements recorded 496 energies from 8.51 keV to 11.59 keV. XERT protocol dictates that systematic errors due dark current nonlinearities, correction for blank measurements, full-foil mapping characterize absolute value of attenuation, scattering, harmonics roughness over extended experimental parameter space. This results in data better analysis, culminating measurement -edge 0.023–0.036% accuracy. Dark corrections energy- structure-dependent magnitude reached 57% thicker samples but was still large significant thin samples. Blank scaled foil by 60–500%; up 90% even foils. Full-foil characterization corrected discrepancies between foils 20%, rendering possibility attenuation. Fluorescence scattering also a major correction. Harmonics, bandwidth were explored. calibrated using standard reference represent most extensive accurate which enable investigations theory experiments. work almost fully automated greatly increasing large-scale studies XERT.