research papers
A new method is presented for a calculation of the reciprocal-space distribution of X-ray diffracted intensity along a crystal truncation rod. In contrast to usual kinematical or dynamical approaches, the method is correct both in the reciprocal-lattice points and between them. In the method, the crystal is divided into a sequence of very thin slabs parallel to the surface; in contrast to the well known Darwin dynamical theory, the electron density in the slabs is constant along the surface normal. The diffracted intensity is calculated by a matrix formalism based on the Fresnel reflection and transmission coefficients. The method is applicable for any polarization of the primary beam and also in a non-coplanar scattering geometry.