Energy-dispersive absorption spectroscopy for hard-X-ray micro-XAS applications

This paper assesses the potential of energy-dispersive XAS for chemical imaging. As an example, two-dimensional mapping of a complex geological sample providing full Fe K-edge XANES information on each pixel has been achieved at the ESRF ID24 beamline. Owing to the acquisition speed and to the small probe of this instrument, an area of about 400 µm × 200 µm has been covered with a spatial resolution of about 5 µm (2808 spectra) in 100 min.

XAFS experiments at beamline I811, MAX-lab synchrotron source, Sweden

A description is given of the new facility for XAFS research at beamline I811, MAX-lab synchrotron source, Lund, Sweden.

Beamline X29: a novel undulator source for X-ray crystallography

A high-flux insertion device and beamline for macromolecular crystallography has been built at the National Synchrotron Light Source.

Crystallinity estimation of thin silicon-on-insulator layers by means of diffractometry using a highly parallel X-ray microbeam

An X-ray microbeam with a small angular divergence and a narrow energy bandwidth has been produced at BL24XU at SPring-8. Using this microbeam the crystallinity estimation of thin layers on silicon-on-insulator wafers is demonstrated.

Stable top-up operation at SPring-8

SPring-8 has succeeded in achieving extremely stable top-up operation by retrofitting. Here the process of retrofitting is discussed, presenting key technical factors for stabilization of top-up operation. Examples are provided showing the value of top-up operation in various experiments.

Diffractive–refractive optics in the Laue case: first experiment

Sagittal focusing of synchrotron radiation by a Laue crystal with profiled diffracting surfaces.

Refraction contrast 11×-magnified X-ray imaging of large objects by MIRRORCLE-type table-top synchrotron

MIRRORCLE-6X is inherently suitable for hard X-ray imaging owing to its magnified projection X-ray imaging, micrometre-size X-ray source point, wide radiation emission angle, X-ray spectrum ranging from 10 keV to 6 MeV, natural refraction contrast imaging and high flux output. Images of human-sized objects produced with 11× geometrical magnification display high resolution and a sharply enhanced edge effect when generated using a few 10 µm rod electron target.

Fast tomography using quasi-monochromatic undulator radiation

An ultra-fast computed tomography technique using a quasi-monochromatic undulator beam has been developed for soft materials.

Development of a real-time timing-shutter performance monitor for protein crystallography

A timing-shutter monitor has been developed using a photodiode and X-ray fluorescence from the timing-shutter blade. When synchronized with goniometer rotation, accurate shutter performance can be monitored in real time.

Current events