add z-scan example placeholder

cadenmyers13 · Dec 21, 2025 · Dec 21, 2025 · Dec 22, 2025 · Dec 22, 2025 · Feb 2, 2026
commit 40f7a73db72e34ba2e9bfc4e1eb035108a1f06fd
diff --git a/docs/source/examples/mu_calc_examples.rst b/docs/source/examples/mu_calc_examples.rst
@@ -2,48 +2,97 @@
 
 :tocdepth: -1
 
-Lab-collected PDF Correction Examples
-######################################
+X-ray Absorption Coefficient (μ) Examples
+#########################################
 
-These examples will demonstrate how to correct X-ray diffraction data
-to compute pair distribution functions (PDFs) from lab-collected X-ray
-diffraction experiments.
+These examples will demonstrate how to calculate the X-ray absorption
+coefficient, μ, using different methods provided in ``diffpy.utils``.
 
-When calculating PDFs using ``diffpy.pdfgetx``,
-a key assumption is that the X-ray absorption is negligible.
-This is frequently the case for high-energy X-rays.
-However, this must be corrected for when using low energy
-X-rays, such as those from a laboratory source.
-To correct for X-ray absorption, the X-ray absorption coefficient, μ,
-must be known.
 
-.. admonition:: Correction methods for X-ray absorption
+.. admonition:: Methods for obtaining X-ray absorption coefficient
 
-   Correcting your diffraction data can be done in **three
+   Obtaining μ can be done in **two
    different ways** using ``diffpy.utils``.
 
-   1. **Using a known μ value**: If the X-ray absorption coefficient μ
-      is already known for your sample, supply this value along with the capillary diameter
-      to directly correct the diffraction data.
-   2. **Using a "z-scan" measurement**: Perform a z-scan measurement
-      on the sample to measure X-ray absorption and extract
-      the corresponding μ value, which is then used to correct the data.
-   3. **Using tabulated values**: Find μ using tabulated absorption coefficients based on the sample
-      composition, density, and X-ray energy, and use this value to apply the
-      absorption correction.
+   1. **Using a "z-scan" measurement**: Perform a z-scan measurement
+      on the sample and use ``diffpy.utils.tools.compute_mud`` to calculate
+      μ.
+   2. **Using tabulated values**: Given composition, density, and X-ray energy,
+      use ``diffpy.utils.tools.compute_mu_using_xraydb`` to calculate μ from
+      tabulated values.
+
+Why is μ Important?
+-----------------------
+
+The X-ray absorption coefficient, μ, quantifies how much X-ray
+radiation is absorbed by a material per unit length. It is a critical
+parameter in many scientific techniques.
+
+For example, when calculating pair distribution functions (PDFs)
+using ``diffpy.pdfgetx``,
+a key assumption is that the X-ray absorption is negligible.
+This is frequently the case for high-energy X-rays. However,
+this must be corrected for when using low energy X-rays, such
+as those from a laboratory source. To correct for X-ray absorption,
+the X-ray absorption coefficient, μ, must be known.
+
+.. admonition:: Correcting for X-ray Absorption with ``diffpy.labpdfproc``
+
+   If your objective is to correct for X-ray absorption in PDF calculations,
+   please refer to our package ``diffpy.labpdfproc``. This package is specifically
+   designed to correct your laboratory X-ray PDF data for absorption effects.
+   More information can be found in the
+   `diffpy.labpdfproc documentation <https://www.diffpy.org/diffpy.labpdfproc//>`_.
 
-Using a known μ value
----------------------
 
-example here
+Calculating μ from a "z-scan" Measurement
+-----------------------------------------
 
-Using a "z-scan" measurement
-----------------------------
+.. note::
 
-Example here
+   The data we will be using for this example can be found here,
+   `FIXME <https://www.diffpy.org/diffpy.utils/examples/zscan_example_data.txt>`_.
 
-Using tabulated values
-----------------------------
+A "z-scan" measurement is the measured transmission of your X-ray incident beam
+as a function of sample position. This is obtained by moving the sample
+along the X-ray beam (z-direction) and recording the transmitted
+intensity at each position. This measured data looks something like this,
+
+.. image:: ../images/FIXME
+   :alt: Example of a z-scan measurement.
+   :align: center
+   :width: 200px
+
+Using this z-scan data, you can calculate **μ·d**, where d is the inner diameter of
+your sample capillary. To do this, simply pass your z-scan measurement to the ``compute_mud``
+function from the ``diffpy.utils.tools`` module.
+
+
+First, import the ``compute_mud`` function,
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   from diffpy.utils.tools import compute_mud
+
+Next, pass the filepath to the function,
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   filepath = "zscan_example_data.txt"
+   capillary_diameter = 0.5 # mm
+   mud = compute_mud(filepath)
+   print(f"Calculated mu*d: {round(mud, 3)}")
+   print(f"Calculated mu: {round(mud / capillary_diameter, 3)} mm^-1")
+
+This will output the calculated value of μ·d, which is unitless, and μ in mm\ :sup:`-1`.
+
+.. code-block:: console
+
+   Calculated mu*d: FIXME
+   Calculated mu: FIXME mm^-1
+
+Calculating μ from Tabulated Values
+-----------------------------------
 
 The function to calculate μ from tabulated values is located
 in the ``diffpy.utils.tools`` module. So first, import the function,
@@ -65,4 +114,10 @@ Now calculate μ using the ``compute_mu_using_xraydb`` function.
 .. code-block:: python
 
    mu_density = compute_mu_using_xraydb(composition, energy_keV, sample_mass_density=sample_mass_density)
-   print(f"Calculated mu from sample_mass_density: {mu_density} cm^-1")
+   print(f"Calculated mu from sample_mass_density: {round(mu_density, 3)} mm^-1")
+
+This will output the calculated X-ray absorption coefficient, μ, in mm\ :sup:`-1`.
+
+.. code-block:: console
+
+   Calculated mu from sample_mass_density: 13.967 mm^-1