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Estimating the difference between structure‐factor amplitudes using multivariate Bayesian inference
Author(s) -
Katona Gergely,
Garcia-Bonete Maria-José,
Lundholm Ida V.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
acta crystallographica section a
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.742
H-Index - 83
ISSN - 2053-2733
DOI - 10.1107/s2053273316003430
Subject(s) - markov chain monte carlo , bayesian probability , covariance , amplitude , multivariate statistics , bayesian inference , monte carlo method , markov chain , algorithm , statistics , mathematics , computer science , statistical physics , physics , optics
In experimental research referencing two or more measurements to one another is a powerful tool to reduce the effect of systematic errors between different sets of measurements. The interesting quantity is usually derived from two measurements on the same sample under different conditions. While an elaborate experimental design is essential for improving the estimate, the data analysis should also maximally exploit the covariance between the measurements. In X‐ray crystallography the difference between structure‐factor amplitudes carries important information to solve experimental phasing problems or to determine time‐dependent structural changes in pump–probe experiments. Here a multivariate Bayesian method was used to analyse intensity measurement pairs to determine their underlying structure‐factor amplitudes and their differences. The posterior distribution of the model parameter was approximated with a Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm. The described merging method is shown to be especially advantageous when systematic and random errors result in recording negative intensity measurements.