Reducing the background of ultra-low-temperature X-ray diffraction data through new methods and advanced materials.

New methods and advanced materials that significantly reduce the background when collecting single-crystal X-ray diffraction data at ultra-low temperatures using a closed-cycle helium refrigerator are presented here. These include a magnetically controlled internal beamstop and a separate internal collimator that together completely remove the scattering contribution to the background from the beryllium vacuum chamber. Additionally, a new radiation shield made from flexible graphite significantly reduces the background and maintains excellent thermal properties.