X-ray diffractometry in the study of short-range order in amorphous alloys

Analysis of diffuse x-ray scattering by amorphous alloys using a diffractometer remains the most accessible and widely used method, despite competition with the energy dispersive method and neutron diffraction. Inexpensive isotopes with neutron scattering amplitude significantly different from their natural mixture are far from available for all elements. This circumstance forces use of x-ray diffractometry with separation of the partial distribution functions. Elimination of systematic errors is necessary for comparison of results obtained by different investigations under different measurement conditions. Most often the changes in the pairwise correlation functions are studied which are due to subcrystallization annealing, mechanical deformation, irradiation and other treatments of the amorphous alloy.