SmallAngleXrayScattering
Small Angle X-ray Scattering, often abbreviated as SAXS, is a powerful experimental technique used to study the structure of matter on the nanometer scale. It relies on the coherent elastic scattering of X-rays by inhomogeneities in electron density within a sample. When X-rays pass through a material, they can be scattered in various directions. SAXS specifically analyzes the scattering patterns observed at very small angles, typically less than 5 degrees, relative to the incident X-ray beam. These small angles correspond to the diffraction from larger structures, such as particles, polymers, or aggregates, with characteristic dimensions in the range of approximately 1 to 100 nanometers.
The intensity of the scattered X-rays as a function of the scattering angle provides information about the