Tips and Tricks

P1 data collection

According to the classical paper (Z. Dauter (1999), Acta Cryst D55, 1703), the required rotation range for native data is 180°, and for anomalous data 180° + 2 theta_max (theta is the diffraction angle).
However, experience shows that collection of a few degrees more than that is a good idea, as the scaling will be more stable. So we regularly collect 200° for native data.
The Pilatus 6M detector at the SLS is composed of many panels, and therefore has horizontal and vertical dead areas which generally lower completeness. This effect is particularly noticeable in P1. It may be a good idea to adjust the detector such that the diect beam is not at a crossing between horizontal and vertical dead areas, and not at the middle of a panel.