Is this a flare in the first picture?

[Debarati92]

Does the below 2D image shows a flare?

because the folowing one definitely has the flare:

[andreashlarsen]

unless you have a very strongly anisotropic statterering sample in the beam then yes - looks like a flare. In my experience, almost impossible to mask out - so if anyway possible - remeasure! :-) But happy to hear the opinion from some an experienced beamline scientist with more training looking at this.

[Debarati92]

Thanks :)
Why is it impossible to mask out? Is it because it is too close to the beam stop?
My sample is isotropic. I have noticed that when I get a flare I also get a slope with a little crookedness in the low q region of SAXS profile which again disappears when the flaring is gone. Interestingly my sample in its native dried state also contributes to a slope at the same region and happens because of aggregation at the surface. So I cannot sort out when do I consider the slope to be from my sample and from the flare (not from the sample but if the beam just grazes on the edge of the sample). To make matters worse I came to know that surface aggregration can also cause flaring. So how do I know the true cause of the flare? ...Maybe I am not clear why flaring happens.......

[andreashlarsen]

It is difficult to mask out as it is hard to define where the effect of the flare stops. It is gradually less intense at higher q.
It make sense that flare is seen (mostly) at low q.
I dont have much experience with flares from powder samples - suggest you ask your local beamline scientist - but for liquid samples flares can apper if the cuvette is not sufficiently filled, so the beam reflects from the sample/water surface. Or if sample holder is not positioned correctly, so the beam hits an edge.

best wishes,
Andreas

[Debarati92]

Thanks Andreas for the help. :)