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We demonstrate a strategy for simulating wide-range X-ray scattering patterns, which spans the small- and wide scattering angles as well as the scattering angles typically used for Pair Distribution Function (PDF) analysis. Such simulated patterns can be used to test holistic analysis models, and, since the diffraction intensity is on the same scale as the scattering intensity, may offer a novel pathway for determining the degree of crystallinity. The "Ultima Ratio" strategy is demonstrated on a 64-nm Metal Organic Framework (MOF) particle, calculated from Q < 0.01 1/nm up to Q < 150 1/nm, with a resolution of 0.16 Angstrom. The computations exploit a modified 3D Fast Fourier Transform (3D-FFT), whose modifications enable the transformations of matrices at least up to 8000^3 voxels in size. Multiple of these modified 3D-FFTs are combined to improve the low-Q behaviour. The resulting curve is compared to a wide-range scattering pattern measured on a polydisperse MOF powder. While computationally intensive, the approach is expected to be useful for simulating scattering from a wide range of realistic, complex structures, from (poly-)crystalline particles to hierarchical, multicomponent structures such as viruses and catalysts., Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures. VASP Datasets and jupyter notebook available from Zenodo: https://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7764045

A Round Robin study has been carried out to estimate the impact of the human element in small-angle scattering data analysis. Four corrected datasets were provided to participants ready for analysis. All datasets were measured on samples containing spherical scatterers, with two datasets in dilute dispersions, and two from powders. Most of the 46 participants correctly identified the number of populations in the dilute dispersions, with half of the population mean entries within 1.5% and half of the population width entries within 40%, respectively. Due to the added complexity of the structure factor, much fewer people submitted answers on the powder datasets. For those that did, half of the entries for the means and widths were within 44% and 86% respectively. This Round Robin experiment highlights several causes for the discrepancies, for which solutions are proposed., Comment: 23 pages, 10 figures. For the original information sent to RR participants, see https://zenodo.org/record/7506365 . For the anonymized results and Jupyter notebook for analysis, see https://zenodo.org/record/7509710

Small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering experiments are used in many fields of the life sciences and condensed matter research to obtain answers to questions about the shape and size of nano-sized structures, typically in the range of 1 to 100 nm. It provides good statistics for large numbers of structural units for short measurement times. With the ever-increasing quantity and quality of data acquisition, the value of appropriate tools that are able to extract valuable information is steadily increasing. SASfit has been one of the mature programs for small-angle scattering data analysis available for many years. We describe the basic data processing and analysis work-flow along with recent developments in the SASfit program package (version 0.94.6). They include (i) advanced algorithms for reduction of oversampled data sets (ii) improved confidence assessment in the optimized model parameters and (iii) a flexible plug-in system for custom user-provided models. A scattering function of a mass fractal model of branched polymers in solution is provided as an example for implementing a plug-in. The new SASfit release is available for major platforms such as Windows, Linux and Mac OS X. To facilitate documentation, it includes improved indexed user documentation as well as a web-based wiki for peer collaboration and online videos for introduction of basic usage. The usage of SASfit is illustrated by interpretation of the small-angle X-ray scattering curves of monomodal gold nanoparticles (NIST reference material 8011) and bimodal silica nanoparticles (EU reference material ERM-FD-102)., Comment: 7 figures, 24 pages. Submitted to J. Appl. Cryst

A reliable and user-friendly characterisation of nano-objects in a target material is presented here in the form of a software data analysis package for interpreting small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) patterns. When provided with data on absolute scale with reasonable uncertainty estimates, the software outputs (size) distributions in absolute volume fractions complete with uncertainty estimates and minimum evidence limits, and outputs all distribution modes of a user definable range of one or more model parameters. A multitude of models are included, including prolate and oblate nanoparticles, core-shell objects, polymer models (Gaussian chain and Kholodenko worm) and a model for densely packed spheres (using the LMA-PY approximations). The McSAS software can furthermore be integrated as part of an automated reduction and analysis procedure in laboratory instruments or at synchrotron beamlines., Comment: 5 figures, 18 pages. Submitted to J. Appl. Cryst