Foreword to the special virtual issue dedicated to the proceedings of the PhotonDiag2018 workshop on FEL Photon Diagnostics, Instrumentation, and Beamlines Design

Foreword to the virtual issue papers from the PhotonDiag2018 workshop.

X-ray free-electron laser wavefront sensing using the fractional Talbot effect

A wavefront sensor for an X-ray free-electron laser has been developed using the fractional Talbot effect. This wavefront sensor enables measurements over a wide range of energies, as is common on X-ray instruments, and is compatible with the high average power pulses expected in upcoming X-ray free-electron laser upgrades.

A five-axis parallel kinematic mirror unit for soft X-ray beamlines at MAX IV

A five-axis parallel kinematic mirror unit, with a small form factor and high stability, for use at soft X-ray synchrotron beamlines is presented.

Understanding the mechanical limitations of the performance of soft X-ray monochromators at MAX IV laboratory

At MAX IV, a fourth-generation, or diffraction-limited, synchrotron light source, six soft X-ray monochromators (Bloch, Veritas, HIPPIE, SPECIES, FinEstBeAMS and SoftiMAX beamlines) are examined with a focus on their resolving power, energy range and the time required to change measurement range. When measuring the mechanical resolution defined by angular vibrations, FinEstBeAMS shows a resolving power R of better than 30000 for all studied c_ff values, while, for HIPPIE, the resolving power for c_ff = 2.25 and higher and for energies lower than 1 keV is better than 100000.

X-ray optics and beam characterization using random modulation: theory

A theoretical review is provided of the X-ray near-field speckle-based phase-sensing approach and its associate processing schemes available for optics and beam characterization.

X-ray optics and beam characterization using random modulation: experiments

The X-ray near-field speckle-based phase-sensing approach and its associated processing schemes are illustrated experimentally in the context of optics and beam characterization.

Modelling phase imperfections in compound refractive lenses

Coherent and partially coherent accurate wavefront propagation simulations using Synchrotron Radiation Workshop (SRW) through thick two-dimensional Be compound refractive lenses are presented, taking into account the effects of phase errors obtained by X-ray speckle vectorial tracking at the BM05 Instrumentation Beamline at the ESRF.

Room-temperature X-ray response of cadmium–zinc–telluride pixel detectors grown by the vertical Bridgman technique

Sub-millimetre arrays with pixel pitch less than 500 mm, based on boron oxide encapsulated vertical Bridgman grown cadmium–zinc–telluride crystals, were fabricated. Excellent room-temperature performance characterizes the detectors even at high-bias-voltage operation (9000 V cm⁻¹) with energy resolution of 1 keV FWHM at 60 keV.

X-ray fluorescence detection for serial macromolecular crystallography using a JUNGFRAU pixel detector

Use of the charge-integrating JUNGFRAU detector for fluorescence detection is investigated, and its applications in macromolecular crystallography at synchrotron and X-ray free-electron laser sources are demonstrated.

First pump–probe–probe hard X-ray diffraction experiments with a 2D hybrid pixel detector developed at the SOLEIL synchrotron

A new photon-counting camera based on hybrid pixel technology has been developed at the SOLEIL synchrotron; it allows the implementation of pump–probe–probe hard X-ray diffraction experiments for the first time. A benchmark experiment was successfully performed, showing the advantages of the pump–probe–probe scheme.

High-pressure developments for resonant X-ray scattering experiments at I16

The development of instrumentation for conducting high-pressure resonant X-ray scattering experiments under cryogenic conditions is presented.

The HARE chip for efficient time-resolved serial synchrotron crystallography

The HARE chip and a toolbox of helpful instrumentation for time-resolved serial synchrotron crystallography are presented.

Development of shock-dynamics study with synchrotron-based time-resolved X-ray diffraction using an Nd:glass laser system

The development of a laser shock experiment at the PF-AR NW14A beamline is presented. Shock dynamics of polycrystalline Al has been observed by nanosecond time-resolved X-ray diffraction.

Synchrotron radiation diffraction in a single crystal of paratellurite investigated with a new experimental scheme

First results are presented for synchrotron radiation diffraction in a paratellurite (TeO₂) single crystal investigated with a new experimental scheme consisting of a standard monochromator and a relatively narrow slit. A new method of measuring the angular position of the crystal by means of an adaptive piezoactuator is applied for the first time. The experimental curves are compared with the theoretical diffraction rocking curves of the paratellurite crystal, both theoretical and calculated taking into account the instrumental function.

A semi-analytical approach for the characterization of ordered 3D nanostructures using grazing-incidence X-ray fluorescence

Following the recent demonstration of the sensitivity of grazing-incidence X-ray fluorescence to the lateral structure of periodic nano-patterned devices, a computational scheme for the simulation of experimental data is presented. This can be used for the element-selective analysis of 3D atomic distributions in nano-patterned structures.

Concentrated protein solutions investigated using acoustic levitation and small-angle X-ray scattering

An acoustically levitated droplet has been used to collect synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering at very high protein concentrations (>200 mg ml⁻¹) – difficult to measure in standard flow-through cells. The data can be collected with minimal sample consumption. Details of the methodology and data treatment are shown thoroughly.

Seed-skewness algorithm for X-ray diffraction signal detection in time-resolved synchrotron Laue photocrystallography

A seed-skewness algorithm for X-ray signal detection is presented and tested. This work shows that the approach works well for photocrystallographic time-resolved Laue datasets.

A portable on-axis laser-heating system for near-90° X-ray spectroscopy: application to ferropericlase and iron silicide

A portable laser-heating system, optimized for synchrotron X-ray spectroscopy, is presented.

X-ray absorption linear dichroism at the Ti K-edge of rutile (001) TiO₂ single crystal

Linear dichroism at the Ti K-edge is investigated in rutile TiO₂ single crystal. A complete assignment of the pre-edge is provided based on finite difference method calculations and spherical tensor analysis. The origin of weak peak A2 similar to anatase TiO₂ is discussed from the presence of oxygen vacancies or from an intrinsic quadrupolar transition.

Theoretical development and experimental validation on the measurement of temperature by extended X-ray absorption fine structure

The theoretical development and experimental validation of the ultra-fast measurement technology of temperature by extended X-ray absorption fine structure are presented.

Resonant inelastic X-ray scattering using a miniature dispersive Rowland refocusing spectrometer

The operation of a miniature tender X-ray spectrometer for use in X-ray emission spectroscopy and resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) is reported. Results of several RIXS measurements on sulfur and uranium are presented and compared with prior literature.

Nanoscale determination of interatomic distance by ptychography-EXAFS method using advanced Kirkpatrick–Baez mirror focusing optics

Interatomic distances of micrometre-size particles were determined with sub-50 nm resolution by ptychography-EXAFS method.

Computer simulations of X-ray phase-contrast images and microtomographic observation of tubules in dentin

Problems of imaging dentinal tubules using synchrotron radiation (SR) are addressed. In computer modeling of a phantom material similar to dentin, it was assumed that the radiation was coherent and that the tubules were parallel to each other. Real millimetre-sized dentin specimens have been investigated by SR microtomography when the incident radiation is not fully coherent. Tomograms were reconstructed from experimental projections using an algorithm for incoherent radiation. The directions of the tubules in a volume of the specimens were generated. However, the tubule cross-section structure cannot be restored.

Fast diffraction-enhanced imaging using continuous sample rotation and analyzer crystal scanning

Fast diffraction-enhanced imaging composed of continuous fast rotations of samples and slow scanning of analyzer crystals has been developed.

A lathe system for micrometre-sized cylindrical sample preparation at room and cryogenic temperatures

A device for mechanical milling of samples for nano-tomography is presented.

Limited angle tomography for transmission X-ray microscopy using deep learning

A deep-learning method for limited angle tomography in synchrotron radiation transmission X-ray microscopies and a demonstration of its application in 3D visualization of a chlorella cell.

Tomographic reconstruction with a generative adversarial network

A generative adversarial network (GAN) is used to reconstruct the missing-wedge tomographic data of an in situ ptychographic measurement.

Transmission, refraction and dark-field retrieval in hard X-ray grating interferometry

A three-image algorithm is proposed for quantitative transmission, refraction and dark-field retrieval in hard X-ray grating interferometry. The novel algorithm is theoretically derived, and validated by proof-of-principle synchrotron radiation experiments. Furthermore, the noise properties of the three retrieved signals are investigated in terms of the standard deviations.

Flattening filter for Gaussian-shaped monochromatic X-ray beams: an application to breast computed tomography

The presented parabolic-shaped aluminum filtration system allows to flatten the Gaussian X-ray intensity distribution produced by a bending magnet, resulting in more spatially homogeneous dose and image noise distributions, and to use a wider portion of the beam for imaging purposes.

AP-XPS beamline, a platform for operando science at Pohang Accelerator Laboratory

An ambient-pressure photoemission spectroscopy beamline has been constructed and has recently begun regular user service at Pohang Accelerator Laboratory. This beamline is a soft X-ray beamline with undulator (U6.8) insertion device and will be a platform for operando surface science.

ID15A at the ESRF – a beamline for high speed operando X-ray diffraction, diffraction tomography and total scattering

ID15A is a newly refurbished beamline at the ESRF devoted to operando and time-resolved diffraction and imaging, total scattering and diffraction computed tomography.

The HXD95: a modified Bassett-type hydrothermal diamond-anvil cell for in situ XRD experiments up to 5 GPa and 1300 K

A Bassett-type hydro­thermal diamond-anvil cell has been modified to enable in situ X-ray diffraction measurements on liquid samples up to 5 GPa and 1300 K at the Diamond Light Source. The new experimental setup provides a maximum accessible scattering vector Q_max of 18 Å⁻¹ (at 56 keV) for improved resolution in G(r).

IRIXS: a resonant inelastic X-ray scattering instrument dedicated to X-rays in the intermediate energy range

A resonant inelastic X-ray scattering instrument operating in the intermediate X-ray range is described in detail. The instrument is operated at beamline P01 of the PETRA III synchrotron in Hamburg, Germany.

Development of XANES nanoscopy on BL7C at PLS-II

The development status of XANES nanoscopy on BL7C at Pohang Light Source-II (PLS-II) and an explanation of this experimental technique through analysis of the battery-material example are presented.

ProQEXAFS: a highly optimized parallelized rapid processing software for QEXAFS data

A high-throughput program for the processing of QEXAFS spectra is presented.

New tools for calibrating diffraction setups

New tools to calibrate different types of scattering experiments suitable for static and moving detectors are presented.

PyXAS – an open-source package for 2D X-ray near-edge spectroscopy analysis

A new spectroscopy analysis package that is optimized for 2D X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy is presented.