Novel angular encoder for a quick-extended x-ray absorption fine structure monochromator

New concepts for time-resolved x-ray absorption spectroscopy using the quick-extended x-ray absorption fine structure (QEXAFS) method are presented. QEXAFS is a powerful tool to gain structural information about, e.g., fast chemical reactions or phase transitions on a subsecond scale. This can be achieved with a monochromator design that employs a channel-cut crystal on a cam driven tilt table for rapid angular oscillations of the Bragg angle. A new angular encoder system and a new data acquisition were described and characterized that were applied to a QEXAFS monochromator to get spectra with a directly measured accurate energy scale. New electronics were designed to allow a fast acquisition of the Bragg angle values and the absorption data during the measurements simultaneously. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics.