A Comparison of the Use of Crystal-Reflected and Filtered X-Rays in Liquid Diffraction Patterns

X-ray diffraction patterns of liquid sodium have been obtained under different conditions of monochromatization, collimation, and tube voltage. It is shown that of the methods tried, monochromatization by rocksalt crystal reflection is the most desirable and the most expedient method. Furthermore, an entirely spurious peak can be introduced into the pattern under certain conditions when filtered x-rays are used.