Novel use of imaging plates in powder diffraction on the Australian National Beamline Facility

The powder diffractometer at the Australian National Beamline Facility makes extensive use of imaging plates as a detector system. On this instrument, a Weissenberg screen and translatable imaging plate cassette allow a series of up to 35 complete powder patterns to be taken in rapid succession. The high sensitivity and dynamic range of imaging plates mean that exposure times of as little as two minutes can be sufficient to provide refinable powder data over -160 to +160’ of arc in 2theta. Examples are given of multiple exposure data where sample temperature, irradiating wavelength and chemical composition are changed in situ. Some of the statistical benefits of using a two dimensional detection system are also discussed.