The microscope's features are varied and make it unique in comparison to other similar instruments. The X-rays from the synchrotron, having passed through the initial beam separator, are normally incident on the surface. The microscope's energy analyzer and aberration corrector improve transmission and resolution over those of standard models. A new fiber-coupled CMOS camera demonstrates an advanced modulation transfer function, dynamic range, and signal-to-noise ratio, a clear improvement over the performance of existing MCP-CCD detection systems.
The atomic, molecular, and cluster physics communities benefit from the Small Quantum Systems instrument, one of the six operational instruments at the European XFEL. Following the conclusion of its commissioning phase, the instrument's user operation formally began at the end of 2018. Here, we present the design and characterization of the beam transport system. Not only are the X-ray optical components of the beamline detailed, but also the performance metrics, including transmission and focusing, are reported. Ray-tracing simulations' predictions of the X-ray beam's focusing efficacy have been validated. This work explores how deviations from ideal X-ray source conditions impact focusing effectiveness.
An investigation into the practicality of X-ray absorption fine-structure (XAFS) experiments, focusing on ultra-dilute metalloproteins under in vivo conditions (T = 300K, pH = 7) at the BL-9 bending-magnet beamline (Indus-2), is presented, utilizing an analogous synthetic Zn (01mM) M1dr solution as a case study. A four-element silicon drift detector was utilized to measure the (Zn K-edge) XAFS of the M1dr solution. The robustness of the first-shell fit against statistical noise was verified, yielding dependable nearest-neighbor bond results. Invariant results across physiological and non-physiological conditions suggest the robust coordination chemistry of Zn, highlighting its important biological implications. The improvement of spectral quality, enabling higher-shell analysis, is the subject of this discussion.
Typically, Bragg coherent diffractive imaging fails to pinpoint the precise location of the measured crystals situated within the specimen. Obtaining these insights would aid in the examination of particle behavior that changes based on location throughout the bulk of non-uniform materials, for example, notably thick battery cathodes. This work describes a means to identify the 3-dimensional location of particles using precise alignment with the instrument's rotational axis. This test, involving a 60-meter-thick LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 battery cathode, precisely located particles in the out-of-plane direction to within 20 meters, while in-plane coordinates were determined with a precision of 1 meter.
An enhanced storage ring at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility has made ESRF-EBS the most brilliant high-energy fourth-generation light source, enabling studies of processes occurring in situ with unprecedented temporal resolution. Acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity Despite the widespread association of synchrotron beam radiation damage with the degradation of organic materials like polymers and ionic liquids, this study showcases that highly intense X-ray beams effectively induce structural changes and beam damage in inorganic materials as well. The ESRF-EBS beam, following its upgrade, now enables the observation of radical-induced reduction of Fe3+ to Fe2+ within iron oxide nanoparticles, a phenomenon previously unseen. The process of radiolysis applied to an ethanol-water mixture containing a low concentration of ethanol (6% by volume) results in the formation of radicals. In-situ experiments in battery and catalysis research, given the extended irradiation times, necessitate a comprehensive understanding of beam-induced redox chemistry to enable accurate interpretation of the experimental data.
The investigation of evolving microstructures employs dynamic micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) techniques powered by synchrotron radiation at synchrotron light sources. The wet granulation method stands as the most commonly utilized procedure for producing pharmaceutical granules, the fundamental components of tablets and capsules. The influence of granule microstructures on product performance is widely understood, making dynamic computed tomography a significant potential application area. As a representative substance, lactose monohydrate (LMH) powder was utilized to demonstrate the dynamic functionality of CT scanning. The wet granulation process of LMH exhibits a rapid progression, spanning several seconds, exceeding the frame rate of laboratory-based CT scanners for detailed visualization of evolving internal structures. Analysis of the wet-granulation process is facilitated by the superior X-ray photon flux from synchrotron light sources, which allows for sub-second data acquisition. Additionally, the inherent non-destructive nature of synchrotron radiation imaging, coupled with its ability to avoid sample alteration, allows for enhanced image contrast using phase-retrieval algorithms. Dynamic CT imaging provides a means to gain understanding of wet granulation, a field previously relying heavily on 2D and/or ex situ analysis methods. Quantitative analysis of the internal microstructure evolution of an LMH granule, during the earliest moments of wet granulation, is achieved via dynamic CT and effective data-processing strategies. The results indicated granule consolidation, the continuous porosity evolution, and the influence of aggregates on the porosity of granules.
Hydrogels-based, low-density tissue scaffolds pose a significant yet necessary visualization challenge in the context of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM). Synchrotron radiation propagation-based imaging computed tomography (SR-PBI-CT) possesses substantial potential, yet it faces a constraint due to the frequently encountered ring artifacts in its images. Addressing this issue, this study explores the integration of SR-PBI-CT and the helical acquisition method (specifically The SR-PBI-HCT method was used for visualizing hydrogel scaffolds. The influence of key imaging variables—helical pitch (p), photon energy (E), and the number of acquisition projections per rotation (Np)—on the image quality of hydrogel scaffolds was investigated. This study guided the optimization of these parameters to enhance image quality, minimize noise, and reduce artifacts. SR-PBI-HCT imaging, optimized for p = 15, E = 30 keV, and Np = 500, shows significant improvement in visualizing hydrogel scaffolds in vitro by eliminating 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. In a systematic study of hydrogel scaffold imaging, the use of SR-PBI-HCT revealed its strength in visualizing and characterizing low-density scaffolds, achieving high image quality in vitro. A notable advancement in the field is presented through this work, enabling non-invasive in vivo visualization and characterization of hydrogel scaffolds at a suitable radiation dose.
The chemical composition and concentration of nutrients and contaminants in rice grains directly influence human health, specifically due to the location and chemical state of these elements within the grain. The spatial characterization of element concentration and speciation is critical for preserving human health and understanding plant elemental homeostasis. To assess average rice grain concentrations of As, Cu, K, Mn, P, S, and Zn, quantitative synchrotron radiation microprobe X-ray fluorescence (SR-XRF) imaging was employed, contrasting the findings with those from acid digestion and ICP-MS analysis on 50 grain samples. The two methodologies correlated more closely for high-Z elements. bone marrow biopsy 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 Arsenic levels were exceptionally high in the ovular vascular trace (OVT), approaching 100 mg/kg in the OVT of a rice grain cultivated in soil contaminated with arsenic. Comparative analysis across multiple studies is facilitated by quantitative SR-XRF, though meticulous sample preparation and beamline characteristics must be considered.
X-ray micro-laminography, utilizing high-energy X-rays, has been established to scrutinize the internal and near-surface structures of dense planar objects, a task inaccessible to 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. Utilizing high-energy X-ray micro-laminography, a compressed fossil cockroach on a planar matrix was examined. Observations were conducted with pixel sizes of 124 micrometers for a wide field of view and 422 micrometers for heightened resolution. Without interference from X-ray refraction artifacts originating from regions outside the target area, the near-surface structure was vividly apparent in this study; a typical problem in tomographic observations. Another visual demonstration highlighted fossil inclusions residing in a planar matrix. Micro-fossil inclusions within the surrounding matrix, and the minute features of the gastropod shell, were observed with clarity. When scrutinizing local structures within a dense planar object via X-ray micro-laminography, the penetration depth within the surrounding matrix is diminished. In X-ray micro-laminography, an important benefit is the selective generation of signals from the region of interest, aided by optimal X-ray refraction. This method effectively creates images without the influence of undesired interactions in the dense encompassing matrix. Subsequently, X-ray micro-laminography provides the capability to detect the minute details of local fine structures and slight variations in the image contrast of planar objects, features not apparent in a tomographic image.