Buy article online - an online subscription or single-article purchase is required to access this article.
Download citation
Download citation
link to html
Magic integers enable several unknown phases to be expressed in terms of a single variable at the expense of introducing some error in the phases represented. The economy of variables is particularly useful in a multisolution direct-methods program like MULTAN where a successful solution may depend upon the ability to use a large number of phases at the beginning of phase determination and the computing time is proportional to the number of variables. Formulae are presented which give the phase errors in the magic-integer representation. A recipe is given for the generation of efficient magic-integer sequences in which the r.m.s. error is spread evenly over all the phases represented. These sequences minimize the overall phase error for a given maximum integer in the sequence. It is found that the errors are minimized when the differences between adjacent members of the magic-integer sequence form the terms of a geometric progression and the smallest integer is greater than half the largest.

Subscribe to Acta Crystallographica Section A: Foundations and Advances

The full text of this article is available to subscribers to the journal.

If you have already registered and are using a computer listed in your registration details, please email support@iucr.org for assistance.

Buy online

You may purchase this article in PDF and/or HTML formats. For purchasers in the European Community who do not have a VAT number, VAT will be added at the local rate. Payments to the IUCr are handled by WorldPay, who will accept payment by credit card in several currencies. To purchase the article, please complete the form below (fields marked * are required), and then click on `Continue'.
E-mail address* 
Repeat e-mail address* 
(for error checking) 

Format*   PDF (US $40)
In order for VAT to be shown for your country javascript needs to be enabled.

VAT number 
(non-UK EC countries only) 
Country* 
 

Terms and conditions of use
Contact us

Follow Acta Cryst. A
Sign up for e-alerts
Follow Acta Cryst. on Twitter
Follow us on facebook
Sign up for RSS feeds