The Web Accessible Diffractometer
at IPFW GEOSCIENCES


Prearrangement

By prearrangement with a password you can run a step scan of your powdered sample sent in the mail. This is a free, but limited, service. Please, no more than one or two samples, and I can't do any of the sample prep.

Spectator

As a spectator you can see the latest on-line pattern as it's being made.


An Important Note to Users

The information on most web sites doesn't change as you use it. That's not true here, our files are modified by your requests for step scans and MAX routines.

Why is that important? Two reasons.

1) You may see a delay in getting results as the diffractometer does its job. Have patience, in almost all cases this delay is quite small.

2) You probably use the arrow keys on your web browser to return to already-visited pages. With disk-caching, these pages are read from your computer's hard drive. That's OK unless you're trying to retrieve information from files containing new information. Use the reload option of your browser to retrieve the information from our web site if you are waiting for new data from the diffractometer.

The Purpose of this Site

More than a simple demonstration of technology, this site provides a useful tool for teaching and doing X-ray diffraction at places that don't have the necessary equipment. We also hope web surfers will enjoy the chance to become familiar with minerals and an important diagnostic tool in the Geosciences.

Intended Users

High School teachers and college geoscientists who want to incorporate X-ray diffraction in their classes are especially invited to use the diffractometer. e.

Expected improvement

The diffractometer portions of the IPFW Geosciences Web Site went on-line in late September, 1995. Most links are active but much can be improved. Our interface to the diffractometer is sometimes slow and compression of graphical information is pushing our computer a bit hard. (One 486-33 running OS2 must simultaneously run the diffractometer, process information from the diffractometer, plot graphics, compress graphics and run the web page. Compression is an especially time-consuming process.
Over the next few years (decades, whatever, as time and money permit) you can expect several additions and refinements.


Some Background Information on X-Ray Diffraction.
A brief technical summary of our interface.
Odds and Ends of interest to the min/pet community, including the programming that makes the Web Accessible Diffractometer run.

Return to the Geoscience Homepage

Send technical Questions and Comments to the WebMaster
URL: HTTP://www.geosci.ipfw.edu/

Questions and comments about the diffractometer project to Anne Argast
ARGAST@IPFW.EDU
Last Modified July 27, 1998