The Beamline X28C of the Center for Synchrotron Biosciences: a National Resource for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics Experiments Using Synchrotron Footprinting

Beamline X28C, at the National Synchrotron Light Source of Brookhaven National Laboratory, functions as a platform for synchrotron footprinting research for structural mapping of proteins and nucleic acids. The article provides a summary of the X28C beamline technology, published results and defines protocols for its adoption at other synchrotron facilities.

The small-angle and wide-angle X-ray scattering set-up at beamline BL9 of DELTA

The new set-up for small-angle and wide-angle X-ray scattering at beamline BL9 of the Dortmund Electron Accelerator (DELTA) is presented. First measurements of small-angle X-ray scattering on lysozyme solutions and a study of crystallographic texture of α-chitin and calcite in lobster and crab shell are discussed.

Zr and Ba edge phenomena in the scintillation intensity of fluorozirconate-based glass-ceramic X-ray detectors

Optically activated fluorozirconate-based glass ceramics are promising candidates as X-ray detectors. The influence of the glass matrix on the scintillation properties of the embedded nanocrystals is investigated as a function of X-ray energy, particle size and structure of the embedded nanocrystals.

Element-selective X-ray detected magnetic resonance: a novel application of synchrotron radiation

X-ray detected magnetic resonance (XDMR) is a new element-selective spectroscopy in which X-ray magnetic circular dichroism is used to probe the resonant precession of spin and orbital magnetization components when a strong microwave pump field is applied perpendicularly to the static bias field. Experimental configurations and instrumentation suitable to detect the very weak XDMR signal are compared. XDMR data collected at both the spin–orbit split Y L-edges and at the Fe K-edge on yttrium iron garnet films are shown to yield unique information regarding the precession dynamics of induced spin and orbital components.

Application of glancing-emergent-angle fluorescence for polarized XAFS studies of single crystals

The glancing-emergent-angle (GEA) method of fluorescence detection has been applied for polarized XAFS studies of single crystals of Cr-doped vanadium sesquioxides. The GEA method is non-destructive, suitable for in situ studies of single crystals and is thus a significant improvement over their powder analysis.

Performance of a fuel cell optimized for in situ X-ray absorption experiments

The development of an optimized fuel cell for in situ X-ray absorption experiments is discussed and examples of usage are presented.

Computed tomography imaging of the neuronal structure of Drosophila brain

An X-ray microtomographic analysis of the Drosophila larvae brain was performed to visualize the neuronal network.

Small-angle pump–probe studies of photoexcited nanoparticles

Pump–probe scattering on femtosecond laser-excited nanoparticle suspensions in the small-angle regime is used to explore the particle and solvent dynamics.

A kHz heat-load shutter for white-beam experiments at synchrotron sources

A flexible heat-load shutter currently operating at a frequency of 946 Hz and window times of 20 µs, and capable of absorbing ∼99% of the heat generated by a synchrotron beam, is described.

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