In comparison to comparable instruments, the microscope is characterized by several unique features. X-rays from the synchrotron, having been channeled through the first beam separator, strike the surface with normal incidence. The microscope's enhanced capabilities, stemming from its energy analyzer and aberration corrector, result in improved resolution and transmission characteristics compared to conventional microscopes. The modulation transfer function, dynamic range, and signal-to-noise ratio of a new fiber-coupled CMOS camera are demonstrably superior to those of the conventional MCP-CCD detection system.
The Small Quantum Systems instrument, one of six operational instruments at the European XFEL, is primarily utilized for atomic, molecular, and cluster physics investigations. Following a commissioning phase, the instrument commenced user operations at the conclusion of 2018. This paper provides a thorough account of the beam transport system's design and characterization. Detailed information about the X-ray optical components of the beamline is provided, as well as a report on the beamline's transmission and focusing capacities. Ray-tracing simulations' predictions of the X-ray beam's focusing efficacy have been validated. A study of the relationship between X-ray source imperfections and focusing performance is undertaken.
We report on the feasibility of applying X-ray absorption fine-structure (XAFS) techniques to ultra-dilute metalloproteins in in vivo conditions (T = 300K, pH = 7) at the BL-9 bending-magnet beamline (Indus-2). A synthetic Zn (01mM) M1dr solution serves as a relevant example. The (Zn K-edge) XAFS of the M1dr solution was assessed by employing a four-element silicon drift detector. A robust first-shell fit, tested for its resistance to statistical noise, produced dependable nearest-neighbor bond results. The invariant results between physiological and non-physiological conditions underscore the robust coordination chemistry of Zn and its important biological consequences. An investigation into the enhancement of spectral quality for the purpose of higher-shell analysis is carried out.
Determining the precise location of the measured crystals inside the sample is usually problematic in Bragg coherent diffractive imaging techniques. Accessing this data will advance the investigation of how particles' behavior varies spatially within the interior of non-homogeneous materials, such as unusually thick battery cathodes. An approach for determining the 3-D spatial coordinates of particles is detailed in this work, centering on their precise alignment along the instrument's axis of rotation. A 60-meter-thick LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 battery cathode, within the scope of the presented test, showcased 20-meter precision in out-of-plane particle positioning, and 1-meter accuracy in in-plane coordinate determination.
ESRF-EBS, now boasting the most brilliant high-energy light produced by a fourth-generation source, thanks to the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility's storage ring upgrade, allows in situ studies with unheard-of temporal precision. selleck chemicals llc While the degradation of organic matter, including polymers and ionic liquids, is a common effect of synchrotron beam radiation damage, this study uniquely demonstrates that highly brilliant X-ray beams can also induce considerable structural modification and damage in inorganic materials. In iron oxide nanoparticles, the reduction of Fe3+ to Fe2+ by radicals in the ESRF-EBS beam, following its upgrade, is reported as a new phenomenon. The radiolysis of an EtOH-H2O blend, with 6% EtOH by volume, is the source of the generated radicals. For proper in-situ data interpretation, particularly in battery and catalysis research involving extended irradiation times, a crucial understanding of beam-induced redox chemistry is necessary.
Synchrotron radiation-driven dynamic micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) at synchrotron light sources is a powerful method for analyzing changing microstructures. A key process in the pharmaceutical industry, wet granulation is the method most commonly used to produce pharmaceutical granules, the materials used for capsules and tablets. Product performance is demonstrably affected by the microstructure of granules, thus positioning dynamic CT as a valuable investigative tool. Lactose monohydrate (LMH), a representative form of powder, was used to highlight the dynamic aspects of computed tomography. The wet granulation process of LMH, happening in a timeframe of several seconds, proves too rapid for laboratory-based CT scanners to reliably track the shifting internal structures. Synchrotron light sources' X-ray photon flux, being superior, allows for sub-second data acquisition, which is perfectly suitable for analyzing the wet-granulation process. Additionally, synchrotron-based radiation imaging is non-destructive, demanding no modification to the sample, and capable of refining image contrast with the assistance of phase-retrieval algorithms. Wet granulation research, previously limited to 2D and ex situ methods, can gain valuable insights from dynamic CT. Efficient data-processing methods combined with dynamic CT enable a quantitative analysis of the internal microstructure's evolution within an LMH granule during the initial stages of wet granulation. Granule consolidation, the continual evolution of porosity, and the influence of aggregates on the porosity of granules were uncovered by the results.
Successfully visualizing low-density tissue scaffolds, derived from hydrogels, within tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM) is both vital and challenging. Although synchrotron radiation propagation-based imaging computed tomography (SR-PBI-CT) shows great potential, the occurrence of ring artifacts in its images hinders its widespread use. This study is focused on the incorporation of SR-PBI-CT with the helical scan methodology to address this challenge (namely, For the purpose of visualizing hydrogel scaffolds, the SR-PBI-HCT method was utilized. Researchers examined the relationship between imaging parameters—helical pitch (p), photon energy (E), and projections per rotation (Np)—and the image quality of hydrogel scaffolds. Subsequently, these parameters were adjusted to enhance the image quality while minimizing noise and artifacts. Visualization of hydrogel scaffolds in vitro using SR-PBI-HCT imaging, under the specific parameters of p = 15, E = 30 keV, and Np = 500, illustrates a significant reduction of ring artifacts. The results also highlight SR-PBI-HCT's ability to visualize hydrogel scaffolds with good contrast at a low radiation dose (342 mGy) and suitable voxel size (26 μm), enabling in vivo imaging. A methodical investigation of hydrogel scaffold imaging with SR-PBI-HCT yielded results indicating that SR-PBI-HCT is a valuable tool for visualizing and characterizing low-density scaffolds with high image quality in vitro. A notable contribution of this work is the advance in non-invasive in vivo visualization and analysis of hydrogel scaffolds with a suitable radiation dosage.
The spatial distribution and chemical speciation of nutrients and pollutants in rice grains have an impact on human health, impacting how these elements are processed by the body. For the purpose of understanding plant elemental homeostasis and protecting human health, methods are required to spatially measure and differentiate the concentrations and forms of elements. Average rice grain concentrations of As, Cu, K, Mn, P, S, and Zn were assessed using quantitative synchrotron radiation microprobe X-ray fluorescence (SR-XRF) imaging. These measurements were compared to concentrations determined through acid digestion and ICP-MS analysis of 50 grain samples. The two methods demonstrated a more uniform agreement with regard to high-Z elements. selleck chemicals llc Quantitative concentration maps of the measured elements were determined through the regression fits between the two methods. The maps displayed the prevailing concentration of most elements within the bran, with exceptions noted for sulfur and zinc, which permeated the endosperm. selleck chemicals llc The ovular vascular trace (OVT) exhibited the highest arsenic concentration, reaching nearly 100 milligrams per kilogram in the OVT of a grain from an arsenic-contaminated rice plant. Quantitative SR-XRF analysis, a helpful tool for comparing data across multiple studies, requires careful consideration of sample preparation and the nuances of beamline characteristics.
In order to observe the inner and near-surface structures within dense planar specimens, high-energy X-ray micro-laminography has been implemented, contrasting with the limitations of X-ray micro-tomography. A multilayer monochromator provided a high-intensity X-ray beam, precisely 110 keV, for high-resolution and high-energy laminographic observations. In order to exemplify the application of high-energy X-ray micro-laminography for observing dense planar objects, an investigation was undertaken on a compressed fossil cockroach situated on a planar matrix surface. The investigation incorporated effective pixel sizes of 124 micrometers for a wide field of view and 422 micrometers for high-resolution observations. The analysis exhibited a distinct portrayal of the near-surface structure, uncompromised by extraneous X-ray refraction artifacts emanating from beyond the region of interest, a typical challenge in tomographic observations. A further demonstration showcased fossil inclusions within a planar matrix. Clear visualization revealed the micro-scale details of the gastropod shell and the micro-fossil inclusions nestled within the surrounding matrix. Local structural analysis using X-ray micro-laminography on dense planar objects demonstrates a reduction in the penetration length through the surrounding matrix. The specific advantage of X-ray micro-laminography is its capacity for precise signal generation within the target region. This is achieved by optimal X-ray refraction, which effectively prevents undesired interactions from interfering with image formation in the dense surrounding matrix. Consequently, the application of X-ray micro-laminography allows for the identification of the localized fine structures and slight variations in image contrast of planar objects that are not discernible in tomographic observations.