Direct experimental method for the determination of x-ray reflection phases

A direct experimental method is described for the phase determination of x-ray reflections from single crystals. This method utilizes the coherent dynamical interaction of diffracted x-ray beams in a 3-beam multiple Bragg reflection to reveal the signs,S _P, of triplet-phase products. This dynamical effect and the relative rotation of the crystal lattice with respect to the Ewald sphere are considered. The phase dependence of the reflected intensity profile is observed and is in agreement with the theory. It is found thatS _P=S _L ·S _R,S _L being the sign defined from the multiple diffraction line profile.S _R is determined by the rotation of the crystal lattice relative to the Ewald sphere. The new method can be applied to a direct experimental determination of phases without carrying out the complicated dynamical calculations.On leave from Instituto de Fisica, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, S.P. 13100, Brazil