X-ray absorption spectroscopy and actinide electrochemistry: a setup dedicated to radioactive samples applied to neptunium chemistry

A spectroelectrochemical setup has been developed to investigate radioactive elements in small (0.7 to 2 ml) volumes under oxidation–reduction (redox) controlled conditions by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The cell design is presented together with in situ XAS measurements performed during neptunium redox reactions.

Covalency between the uranyl ion and di­thio­phosphinate by sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy and density functional theory

The first pre-edge feature with an intensity of 0.16 in the S K-edge X-ray absorption spectra of UO₂(S₂PR₂) (R = Ph and o-CF₃C₆H₄) is entirely attributed to the transitions from S 1s orbitals to the unoccupied molecular orbitals due to the mixing between U 5f and S 3p orbitals.

Application of multi-edge HERFD-XAS to assess the uranium valence electronic structure in potassium uranate (KUO₃)

By combining HERFD-XAS at the uranium L₁-, L₃- and M₄-edge with relativistic quantum chemistry calculations the uranium valence electronic structure in KUO₃ could be assessed in detail. The contribution of uranium and oxygen states in observed spectral features is discussed.

Size and structure of hexanuclear plutonium oxo-hydroxo clusters in aqueous solution from synchrotron analysis

A water-soluble plutonium cluster made of six plutonium atoms decorated by four 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid ligands is characterized by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS).

Controllable sites and high-capacity immobilization of uranium in Nd₂Zr₂O₇ pyrochlore

The first systematic study on U-incorporated Nd₂Zr₂O₇ synthesized via a molten salt method for potential actinide immobilization is presented.

Interaction of Th(IV), Pu(IV) and Fe(III) with ferritin protein: how similar?

The mechanisms of interaction of thorium and plutonium with Fe storage horse spleen ferritin protein (L subunit) have been described by combining modeling with EXAFS data. The interaction between the L subunits and both actinides appears to be driven by the density of the presence of Asp and Glu residues on the protein shell.

Opportunities and challenges of applying advanced X-ray spectroscopy to actinide and lanthanide N-donor ligand systems

Exploring the opportunities and challenges when studying actinide and lanthanide N-donor ligand systems relevant for separation technologies from the metal and ligand point of view using X-ray spectroscopy techniques and computations.

Chemical and elemental mapping of spent nuclear fuel sections by soft X-ray spectromicroscopy

Soft X-ray spectromicroscopy at the O K-edge, U N_4,5-edges and Ce M_4,5-edges has been performed on focused ion beam sections of spent nuclear fuel for the first time. Analysis of oxygen spectra using a modified non-negative matrix factorization method is consistent with a thin layer of hyperstoichiometric uranium oxide having been formed at the interface of a sample consisting of primarily UO₂, probably formed after sample preparation. The cerium oxidation state is shown to be predominantly trivalent, with a possible small contribution from tetravalent Ce.

Implementation of cryogenic tender X-ray HR-XANES spectroscopy at the ACT station of the CAT-ACT beamline at the KIT Light Source

The capabilities for the investigation of radionuclide materials by high-resolution X-ray emission spectroscopy techniques at the CAT-ACT beamline of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Light Source have been expanded to allow for the investigation of redox-labile low-concentration samples at cryogenic temperatures.

Spectroscopic evaluation of U^VI–cement mineral interactions: ettringite and hydro­talcite

A U L_III-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopic investigation of U^VI interactions with minor cement minerals, ettringite and hydro­talcite, is reported. The study is supplemented by ²⁷Al magic angle scattering nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and geochemical modelling.

Single-shot experiments at the soft X-FEL FERMI using a back-side-illuminated scientific CMOS detector

We demonstrate the possibility of using a CMOS 2D sensor for time-resolved pump–probe XUV FEL experiments. We gained a factor of 30 in acquisition time compared to the use of a commercial CCD-BSI.

Single-shot measurement of longitudinal phase space beam profile in an electron storage ring

A novel scheme to measure the longitudinal emittance and phase space profile in an electron storage ring by using correlations between time and the vertical coordinate, and between energy and the horizontal coordinate, is proposed.

Conceptual design of the Hybrid Ring with superconducting linac

The concept of the Hybrid Ring, designed to be operated with the coexistence of two types of beams, is presented, with examples of application.

Evaluation of silicon strip detectors in transmission mode for online beam monitoring in microbeam radiation therapy at the Australian Synchrotron

This study provides an extensive evaluation of the suitability of transmission detectors for use in synchrotron-based microbeam radiation therapy applications.

Optimizing the energy bandwidth for transmission full-field X-ray microscopy experiments

Results are presented for full-field transmission X-ray microscopy (TXM) acquired at different energy bandwidths; the trade-offs in achievable resolution and acquisition speed are discussed.

X-ray focusing by bent crystals: focal positions as predicted by the crystal lens equation and the dynamical diffraction theory

A crystal lens equation is deduced to address the location of the focus when monochromatic X-ray radiation encounters a bent crystal. It is extended using dynamical theory of diffraction for Laue symmetrical diffraction. Combination of polychromatic and monochromatic focusing is also discussed.

X-ray beam monitoring and wavelength calibration using four-beam diffraction

A novel scheme based on four-beam diffraction is illustrated for accurate calibration of X-ray photon energies and real-time monitoring of two-dimensional beam positions of modern synchrotron light sources.

Towards a dynamic com­pression facility at the ESRF

The results of the 2018 commissioning and experimental campaigns of the new High Power Laser Facility on the Energy-dispersive X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (ED-XAS) beamline ID24 at the ESRF are presented.

The CirPAD, a circular 1.4 M hybrid pixel detector dedicated to X-ray diffraction measurements at Synchrotron SOLEIL

The DiffAbs beamline, the Detectors and the Design and Engineering groups at Synchrotron SOLEIL, in collaboration with ImXPAD and Cegitek com­panies, have developed an original and unique detector with a circular shape. This detector is based on the hybrid pixel photon-counting technology and consists of the specific assembly of 20 hybrid pixel array detector (XPAD) modules.

Development of an experimental apparatus to observe ultrafast phenomena by tender X-ray absorption spectroscopy at PAL-XFEL

Tender X-ray absorption spectroscopy was successfully performed with the newly developed experimental apparatus at PAL-XFEL.

Using photoelectron spectroscopy to measure resonant inelastic X-ray scattering: a computational investigation

Using a deconvolution algorithm, it is shown that resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) spectra can be reliably estimated from measurements of photoelectrons created through absorption of RIXS photons in a chosen material. The method works on previously reported data with ∼0.5 eV resolution, and simulations show its potential for accurately estimating spectral features with hundreds of meV or smaller width.

Detection and localization of calcium oxalate in kidney using synchrotron deep ultraviolet fluorescence microscopy

Synchrotron deep ultraviolet imaging highlighting pathological calcium oxalate detection in kidney is presented.

X-ray in-line holography and holotomography at the NanoMAX beamline

First results of in-line holography and holotomography from the NanoMAX beamline at MAX IV are presented.

Machine learning denoising of high-resolution X-ray nano­tomography data

A high-performance denoising filter based on machine learning for high-resolution synchrotron nano­tomography data is analyzed and evaluated.

Real-time X-ray imaging of mouse cerebral microvessels in vivo using a pixel temporal averaging method

A pixel temporal averaging method is developed to eliminate motion artifacts and random noises aiming at real-time and in vivo radiology of mouse cerebral microvessels.

Virtual histology of archaeological human deciduous prenatal enamel through synchrotron X-ray computed microtomography images

The implementation of synchrotron radiation X-ray microtomography for non-destructive visualization of the dental prenatal enamel microstructure of intact archaeological human deciduous teeth is presented and compared with the physical thin-sectioning of the same archaeological dental series. Prenatal daily enamel secretion rates, i.e. the distance between two adjacent daily enamel microstructures, have been measured with the two approaches. Results show a good agreement between physical and virtual histology.

Foam-like phantoms for comparing tomography algorithms

A family of foam-like mathematical phantoms for comparing tomography algorithms is presented.

TXM-Sandbox: an open-source software for transmission X-ray microscopy data analysis

TXM-Sandbox, a workflow software that integrates all the tools required for general transmission X-ray microscope data processing and visualization, is presented. The software is written in Python and has a graphic user interface in Jupyter Notebook.

HERMES – a GUI-based software tool for pre-processing of X-ray absorption spectroscopy data from laboratory Rowland circle spectrometers

HERMES is a graphical user interface software tool for pre-processing X-ray absorption spectroscopy data from laboratory Rowland circle spectrometers.

Robotic sample changers for macromolecular X-ray crystallography and biological small-angle X-ray scattering at the National Synchrotron Light Source II. Corrigendum

A correction in the paper by Lazo et al. [(2021). J. Synchrotron Rad. 28, 1649–1661] is made.