Collection of Bragg data with a neutron flat-cone diffractometer

The design and operational principles are presented of a novel neutron diffractometer based on the flat-cone technique which uses a 400-cell one-dimensional multidetector. Setting angles and measuring conditions are given for a generalized flat-cone geometry. Test data were collected from an Ni(NH₃)₆(NO₃)₂ crystal. They are compared with Bragg intensities measured from the same crystal with a conventional four-circle diffractometer. A test for consistency between the two data sets gives R values of 0.019 and 0.031 depending on the weighting scheme. The results of independent structure refinements are in good agreement.