A simplified description of X-ray free-electron lasers

An elementary derivation of fundamental properties of X-ray free-electron lasers is presented, including gain and saturation. Because of its simplicity, this approach is particularly suitable for teaching at different levels and for presentations to non-specialized audiences.

Investigations of mechanical vibrations for beamlines at the Canadian Light Source

Vibration sources are identified at four beamlines/endstations at the Canadian Light Source.

High-throughput full-automatic synchrotron-based tomographic microscopy

The automatization tools for high-throughput tomographic microscopy developed at the TOMCAT beamline of the Swiss Light Source are described

X-ray transfocators: focusing devices based on compound refractive lenses

A tunable X-ray focusing and/or monochromating device, called a transfocator, is described. Examples of its implementation on ID11 at the ESRF are given.

Numerical optimization of spherical variable-line-spacing grating X-ray spectrometers

Operation of an X-ray spectrometer based on a spherical variable-line-spacing grating is analyzed using dedicated ray-tracing software allowing fast optimization of the grating parameters and spectrometer geometry.

Hard X-ray microbeam lithography using a Fresnel zone plate with a long focal length

The focused X-ray microbeam with Si-based Fresnel zone plate was successfully utilized to fabricate patterns with features as small as 100 nm on a photoresist.

Small-angle solution scattering using the mixed-mode pixel array detector

A fast-readout pixel array detector is evaluated for small-angle X-ray scattering experiments.

X-ray analog pixel array detector for single synchrotron bunch time-resolved imaging

An analog integrating pixel array detector sufficiently fast to isolate synchrotron bunches is presented and tested. The device is appropriate for time-resolved single-crystal Bragg reflection experiments or high-speed beam characterization.

A new stand-alone QEXAFS data acquisition system for in situ studies

A detailed overview of a new QEXAFS data acquisition system is given and its performance is characterized. All important features are explained with examples, and crucial design parameters of a QEXAFS set-up are discussed.

Quick-EXAFS implementation on the general purpose EXAFS beamline at ESRF

The new implementation of QEXAFS acquisition on the general purpose EXAFS beamline BM29 at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility is presented.

Synchrotron Mössbauer spectroscopy using high-speed shutters

A new method of performing Mössbauer spectroscopy using a fast shutter in combination with microfocused synchrotron radiation is demonstrated.

Phosphorus K-edge XANES spectroscopy of mineral standards

Phosphorus K-edge XANES spectra are presented for a diverse set of 44 phosphate minerals.

On aberrations in saw-tooth refractive X-ray lenses and on their removal

It is found that X-ray focusing using flexible saw-tooth refractive lenses suffers significantly from aberrations. A solution for removal of the aberrations is presented, which will permit diffraction-limited operation of such lenses.

Adaption of a diffractometer for time-resolved X-ray resonant magnetic scattering

A set-up is presented to measure element-resolved magnetization dynamics with a temporal resolution well below 100 ps in the time domain. X-ray resonant magnetic scattering with a diffractometer set-up enables the investigation of magnetic thin films, multilayers and laterally structured samples.

Comparison of lens- and fiber-coupled CCD detectors for X-ray computed tomography

Lens- and fiber-coupled X-ray detectors with identical CCD chips were compared in their performance in high-resolution computed tomography experiments.

Multi-frame acquisition scheme for efficient energy-dispersive X-ray magnetic circular dichroism in pulsed high magnetic fields at the Fe K-edge

A multi-frame acquisition scheme for efficient energy-dispersive X-ray magnetic circular dichroism at the Fe K-edge is presented.

Feasibility of in-line instruments for high-resolution inelastic X-ray scattering

The `M⁴ instrument' consisting of a combination of two in-line high-resolution monochromators, focusing mirrors and collimating mirrors is presented as an alternate concept to the use of backreflections for inelastic X-ray scattering instruments. Design choices and performance estimates are discussed.

Assessment of chemical species of lead accumulated in tidemarks of human articular cartilage by X-ray absorption near-edge structure analysis

Lead is a toxic trace element that shows a highly specific accumulation in the transition zone between calcified and non-calcified articular cartilage, the so-called `tidemark'. Excellent agreement has been found between XANES spectra of synthetic Pb-doped carbonated hydroxyapatite and spectra obtained in the tidemark region and trabecular bone of normal human samples, confirming that in both tissues Pb is incorporated into the hydroxyapatite crystal structure of bone. During this study the µ-XANES set-up at the SUL-X beamline at ANKA was tested and has proven to be well suited for speciation of lead in human mineralized tissue samples.

Time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy using synchrotron radiation time structure

New equipment for performing time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy using the synchrotron radiation time structure has been developed and tested.

A large-volume gas cell for high-energy X-ray reflectivity investigations of interfaces under pressure

A novel large-volume cell dedicated to high-energy X-ray reflectivity investigations of interfaces under pressure is described.

Direct and qu­antitative comparison of pixelated density profiles with high-resolution X-ray reflectivity data

A method is described for comparing pixelated interfacial density profiles with X-ray reflectivity data both directly and quantitatively.

Rietveld and pair distribution function study of Hägg carbide using synchrotron X-ray diffraction

The atomic configuration of the pseudo-monoclinic structure of Hägg carbide (χ-Fe₅C₂) was confirmed by a real-space modelling of the pair distribution function and comparison with results from high-resolution synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction.

In situ XAFS experiments using a microfluidic cell: application to initial growth of CdSe nanocrystals

The design and performance of a compact fluorescense XAFS apparatus equipped with a microfluidic cell for in situ studies of nanoparticles are described.

Densification of sol–gel silica thin films induced by hard X-rays generated by synchrotron radiation

The effects induced by exposure of sol–gel thin films to hard X-rays have been studied.

In situ study of nanotemplate-induced growth of lysozyme microcrystals by submicrometer GISAXS

The recently introduced in situ µGISAXS technique has been used at ESRF to study the nucleation and growth mechanisms of lysozyme microcrystals with and without the thin Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) lysozyme film surface. Intensity fluctuations in the µGISAXS pattern versus time for the LB-induced crystallization process appear to be associated with rapid seed formation and crystal growth, while in the induced crystallization by the classical hanging-drop method the continuous shift of intensity in the Yoneda region appears to be compatible with slow crystal growth and with the quantitative model.

Coherent diffraction microscopy at SPring-8: instrumentation, data acquisition and data analysis

An instrumentation and data analysis review of coherent diffraction microscopy at SPring-8 is given. This work will be of interest to those who want to apply coherent diffraction imaging to studies of materials science and biological samples.

Diffractive–refractive optics: (+,−,−,+) X-ray crystal monochromator with harmonics separation

A new method of harmonics separation for an X-ray crystal monochromator is proposed. The method is based on diffractive–refractive optics.

Three-dimensional X-ray micro-velocimetry

Three-dimensional X-ray velocimetry with micrometer-level resolution is demonstrated.

GROIN: a fast optical adjustment of a Kirkpatrick–Baez set-up

A very simple and compact optical device aimed at the fast adjustment, alignment and bending of the mirrors of a Kirpatrick–Baez system used in the X-ray domain is described.

MicroGISAXS of Langmuir–Blodgett protein films: effect of temperature on long-range order. Addendum

An extra acknowledgment is published for the paper by Pechkova et al. [(2009), J. Synchrotron Rad. 16, 330–335].

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