JPH0810199B2 - Continuous recording X-ray diffractometer - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an X-ray diffraction apparatus for irradiating a sample with X-rays and examining an X-ray diffraction image of the sample.

[Prior Art] As a method for elucidating the crystal structure of a crystalline substance, it is known to irradiate a sample, which is a crystalline substance, with X-rays, and observe and analyze an X-ray diffraction image obtained as a result.

As a method of recording an X-ray diffraction image obtained by irradiation with X-rays, X-ray photography has been known for a long time.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the above-described method using X-ray photography has the following two problems, and has been regarded as a future problem to be solved.

One is that because silver salts are used, it is greatly concerned with problems such as depletion of silver resources, and the other is that since the photographs are taken one by one, changes in the sample state can be observed continuously. However, it cannot be analyzed.

For the former problem, a technology has been developed that utilizes a phosphor layer that absorbs and accumulates radiation as a recording means of a radiation image (X-ray diffraction image) and has already been put into practical use. However, no effective solution has been made yet.

In order to solve this latter problem, it is necessary to give consideration to a specific device, and there is a problem associated with this device, that is, a problem such as the development of a mechanism for ensuring continuous recording in the image recording means. In addition to the above, problems such as the arrangement of X-ray diffraction optical means for irradiating a sample with X-rays to obtain a diffraction image and image reading means for reading a recorded diffraction image, or Various problems such as downsizing and cost reduction of the device as a whole by integrating the respective means have to be solved at once, which makes it difficult to solve.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and utilizes a phosphor layer that absorbs and accumulates radiation as a recording means for an X-ray diffraction image, and continuously observes and analyzes changes in the state of a sample. An object of the present invention is to provide an X-ray diffractometer capable of performing the above.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The structure of the X-ray diffraction apparatus according to the present invention will be briefly described. An image recording unit that records a radiation image by a phosphor layer and a sample that is irradiated with X-rays. X-ray diffraction optical means for projecting the resulting X-ray diffraction image on the image recording surface of the image recording means, image reading means for reading the image recorded in the image recording means, and image recording of the image recording means. Although the image erasing means for erasing a recorded image by irradiating a predetermined light on the surface is provided, it is not only the structure of the image recording means because it solves the conventional problems. , The above-mentioned means are also arranged in a mutually ingenious manner.

That is, in the X-ray diffractometer according to the present invention, the image recording means has a cylindrical shape, the outer peripheral surface of which is an image recording surface of the phosphor layer, and the image recording means is rotatably supported about the central axis of the cylinder, and The X-ray diffraction optical means, the image reading means and the image erasing means are arranged in sequence along the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical image recording means, and further, the image recording means and the X-ray diffraction optical means. A mask for preventing the transmission of X-rays is disposed between and, and a slit for transmitting X-rays is provided in the mask in a band shape along the central axis of the image recording means.

[Operation] In the continuous recording X-ray diffraction apparatus of the present invention, when the sample is irradiated with X-rays by the X-ray diffraction optical means, the X-ray diffraction image of the sample is projected toward the image recording means. . In this case, the projected X-ray diffraction image is narrowed by the slit into a strip shape along the central axis of the image recording means.

Therefore, the diffraction image actually recorded on the image recording means is in a band-like range along the central axis of the image recording means, only a part of the image recording surface of the image recording means has been recorded, and other areas are recorded. Most parts remain unrecorded.

Therefore, if the image recording means is rotated at a constant rotation speed, for example, it is possible to continuously record diffraction images corresponding to the state of the sample.

Further, since the X-ray diffraction optical means, the image reading means, and the image erasing means are arranged in order around the cylindrical image recording means, the rotation direction of the image recording means is changed from the X-ray diffraction optical means. If the direction toward the image reading means is set, the image recorded during one rotation is read and erased in order, and the initial recordable state is restored.
Therefore, the recording / reading of the diffraction image can be continuously repeated without limitation without being affected by the size of the recording means, and at the same time, the overall size of the apparatus can be reduced by downsizing the recording means. .

Further, since the reading operation and the erasing operation can be performed in parallel with the recording operation, the observation / analysis of the X-ray diffraction image can be advanced more efficiently in terms of time.

Embodiments FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a continuous recording X-ray diffractometer according to the present invention.

As will be understood from FIG. 1, this continuous recording X-ray diffractometer 1 irradiates an image recording means 2 for recording a radiation image with a phosphor layer and a sample 3 with X-rays 4 to obtain X as a result. The line diffraction image 5 is recorded on the image recording surface 2a of the image recording means 2.
X-ray diffraction optical means 6 for projecting onto the image, image reading means 7 for reading the image recorded in the image recording means 2, and erasing the recorded image by irradiating the image recording surface 2a with predetermined light. The image erasing means 8 for performing the operation is a basic configuration.

In addition, the recording unit 2, the reading unit 7, and the erasing unit 8 described above.
Are arranged in a box-shaped apparatus body frame 1a. The device body frame 1a is linearly movable by a rail 11 installed on the floor 10. The moving direction of the rail 11 is made to coincide with the irradiation direction of the X-ray 4 by the optical means 6 as shown by the arrow (a) in FIG. 1, and the movement on the rail 11 causes the sample 3 and the recording means to move. The distance between the two is adjustable.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, each of the optical means 6, the image reading means 7, and the image erasing means 8 is arranged along the outer peripheral surface of the recording means 2 so as to be displaced in order.

Hereinafter, necessary components will be described in detail among the above-mentioned constituent members.

The recording means 2 has a cylindrical shape as a whole, and the outer peripheral surface thereof serves as an image recording surface 2a formed of a phosphor layer. The recording means 2 is rotatably supported by the apparatus main body frame 1a about the center axis of the cylinder, and is rotationally driven in the arrow (b) direction in FIG. 1 by a driving means 14 such as a motor. .

The above-mentioned optical means 6 includes a support 16 for supporting the sample 3 in a predetermined posture, an X-ray source 17 for emitting X-rays, and a monochromator 1.
8 and a collimator 19 and the like, the sample 3 on the support 16 is irradiated with X-rays 4. The support table 16 is equipped with a goniometer so that the sample support section 16a can not only swivel in the directions of arrows (c) and (d) in FIG. 1, but also can move in any direction in the horizontal plane. The posture (direction) of the supported sample 3 can be adjusted in any direction. Further, on the support table 16, there is provided a status adjustment difference (not shown) capable of continuously changing various conditions such as temperature and pressure of the sample 3, and the status of the sample 3 is adjusted by the status adjusting device. Is configured to be continuously variable. The rotation of the recording means 2 is controlled in association with changes in the posture of the sample 3 and other conditions.

The position of the sample 3 with respect to the recording means 2 is located at the same height as the central axis of the recording means 2 in a side view as shown in FIG. 1, and as shown in FIG. 2 in a plan view. At a position where the length of the recording surface 2a in the central axis direction is divided into two. Further, the X-ray source 17 and the monochromator 18 are rotatable in the directions of arrows (e) and (f) shown in FIG. 1, respectively.

Between the optical means 6 and the recording means 2 as described above, a mask 21 made of metal (lead or the like) for preventing transmission of X-rays is provided.

The mask 21 is easily attached to and detached from the apparatus main body frame 1a, and has a slit 22 for transmitting a part of the diffraction image.

The slit 22 has a strip shape extending along the direction of the central axis of the recording means 2, and the length dimension along the direction of the central axis is substantially equal to the length dimension of the recording surface 2a in the central axis direction. I am letting you. When the length dimension of the slit 21 is set in this way, when the diffraction image becomes symmetrical, the left and right of the images recorded on the recording surface 2a are compared with each other, and thus the diffraction image can be more accurately obtained. Can be analyzed.

The above-mentioned reading means 7 irradiates the image recording surface 2a with excitation light and, as a result, detects the emission intensity of stimulated emission that occurs in proportion to the accumulated amount of radiation (X-rays), thereby recording. An image is read, and the basic configuration is a radiation image reading apparatus (for example, Japanese Patent Application No.
62-161918, etc.).

However, in this embodiment, the reading means 7 is
As shown by the arrow (g) in the figure, it is provided so as to be movable in the direction of the central axis of the recording means 2 by a rail 24 provided on the apparatus main body frame 1a, and also as a counter portion for detecting the emission intensity. A plurality of counters 7a and 7b having different detection sensitivities (two counters in this embodiment) are arranged side by side to adjust the dynamic range with the recording means 2.

The erasing means 8 described above uses a halogen lamp 8a having a rod-shaped appearance.

In the diffractive device 1 as described above, the diffraction image projected on the recording means 2 is narrowed down by the slit 22 interposed between the optical means 6 and the image recording means 2, and therefore, actually recorded on the recording means 2. The diffracted image becomes a band-shaped range along the central axis of the recording means 2. If the recording means 2 is rotated at a constant rotation speed, diffracted images corresponding to the state of the sample 3 are continuously recorded. I can go.

The optical unit 6, the reading unit 7, and the erasing unit 8 are sequentially arranged around the cylindrical recording unit 2, and the rotation direction of the recording unit 2 is from the optical unit 6 to the reading unit 7. If set, the recorded image is read and erased in order during one rotation, and the initial recordable state is restored. Therefore, the recording / reading of the diffraction image can be continuously repeated without limitation without being affected by the size of the recording means 2, and at the same time, the overall size of the apparatus can be reduced by downsizing the recording means. it can.

Further, since the reading operation and the erasing operation can be performed in parallel with the recording operation, there is an effect that the observation / analysis of the X-ray diffraction image can be proceeded more efficiently in terms of time.

Although the present invention relates to an X-ray diffractometer,
It goes without saying that the same effect can be expected when other radiation close to X-rays is used instead of the radiation.

[Effects of the Invention] As is apparent from the above description, in the continuous recording X-ray diffraction apparatus according to the present invention, the image is projected onto the image recording means by the slit interposed between the X-ray diffraction optical means and the image recording means. The X-ray diffraction image to be recorded is narrowed down, so that the diffraction image actually recorded on the image recording means becomes a band-shaped range along the central axis of the image recording means, and the image recording means is rotated at a constant rotation speed. By doing so, it is possible to continuously record diffraction images corresponding to the state of the sample.

Further, each of the X-ray diffraction optical means, the image reading means and the image erasing means is sequentially arranged around the image recording means having a cylindrical shape, and the image recording means and the rotation direction are imaged from the X-ray diffraction optical means. If the direction toward the reading means is set, the recorded image is read and erased in order during one rotation, and the initial recordable state is restored.

Therefore, the recording / reading of the diffraction image can be continuously repeated without limitation without being affected by the size of the image recording means, and at the same time, the entire apparatus can be made compact by downsizing the recording means. it can.

Further, since the reading operation and the erasing operation can be performed in parallel with the recording operation, it is possible to obtain the effect that the X-ray diffraction image can be observed and analyzed more efficiently in time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a continuous recording X-ray diffractometer according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof. 1 ... Continuous recording X-ray diffractometer, 2 ... Image recording means, 2a
...... Image recording surface, 3 ... Sample, 4 ... X-ray, 6 ... X-ray diffraction optical means, 7 ... image reading means, 8 ... image erasing means, 21 ... mask, 22 ... slit .

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image recording means for recording a radiation image by a phosphor layer and an X-ray diffraction for projecting an X-ray diffraction image obtained by irradiating a sample with X-rays onto an image recording surface of the image recording means. An optical reading means, an image reading means for reading an image recorded in the image recording means, and an image erasing means for erasing a recorded image by irradiating an image recording surface of the image recording means with predetermined light. The image recording means has a cylindrical shape, the outer peripheral surface of which serves as an image recording surface of the phosphor layer and is supported rotatably around the central axis of the cylinder, and the optical means for X-ray diffraction and The image reading means and the image erasing means are arranged in order along the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical image recording means, and further, X-ray transmission is performed between the image recording means and the X-ray diffraction optical means. A mask is placed to prevent This is the mask continuous recording X-ray diffraction apparatus, wherein a slit for transmitting X-rays is provided in a band shape along the central axis of said image recording means.