Use of diamond sensors for a high-flux, high-rate X-ray pass-through diagnostic

Two approaches to the design of a diamond sensor signal path were explored using high-intensity X-ray pulses from the LINAC Coherent Light Source at SLAC. Results on the charge-collection efficiency and signal collection time are presented over a range of approximately four orders of magnitude in the generated electron–hole plasma density.

Observations of phase changes in monoolein during high viscous injection

This is a study of the phase changes detected in monoolein samples under constant flow using a high-viscousity injector. The sample behaviour was studied using X-ray techniques while light microscopy and modelling studies were used to help interpret some of the effects observed in the data.

On the theory of synchrotron radiation nano­focusing with planar compound refractive lenses

Two new methods of computer simulation of synchrotron radiation nanofocusing with planar compound refractive lenses (PCRLs) are presented. The methods are based on the results of analytical theory. A new feature is the possibility to take into account the PCRL aperture. A universal computer program was elaborated and specific results were obtained.

Improving the magnet alignment of undulator systems by laser interferometer

A laser interferometer has been developed to read and fix magnet misalignments in an undulator.

Polished diamond X-ray lenses

The performance of state-of-the-art bi-concave 2D focusing diamond X-ray lenses produced via laser-ablation and improved via a polishing process is reported.

A novel solution for controlling hardware components of accelerators and beamlines

A novel approach to the remote-control system for the compact multi-crystal energy-dispersive spectrometer for X-ray emission spectroscopy applications is described.

Sub-micrometer focusing setup for high-pressure crystallography at the Extreme Conditions beamline at PETRA III

Facing the challenges of X-ray diffraction from tiny samples subjected to multimegabar pressures, instrumentation developments are presented that enable, among other studies, single-crystal data collection from micrometer- to sub-micrometer-sized grains. The developments are based on a sub-micrometer beam capability employing compound refractive lenses operating with a phase correcting plate and a precise motorization solution.

Mamba: a systematic software solution for beamline experiments at HEPS

Mamba is a Bluesky-based experiment-control framework being developed for the High Energy Photon Source (HEPS); its frontend and backend collaborate through a remote-procedure-call service and, most importantly, command injection. Improvement of Bluesky's support for high-frequency and high-throughput applications is in progress, with Mamba Data Worker as a key component. Other plans, including an experiment parameter generator and Mamba GUI Studio, have also been discussed.

An X-ray beam profile monitoring system at a beamline front-end combining a single-crystal diamond film and energy discrimination using droplet analysis

A beam monitoring system with pin-hole optics has been developed at an undulator beamline front-end in SPring-8. Energy-resolved beam images were successfully observed and were found to be in good agreement with the theoretical calculation.

High-throughput nuclear resonance time domain interferometry using annular slits

Nuclear resonance time domain interferometry (NR-TDI) is used to study the slow dynamics of liquids at atomic and molecular length scales. Here the TDI method of using a stationary two-line magnetized ⁵⁷Fe foil as a source and a stationary single-line stainless steel foil analyzer is employed.

Better automation of beamline control at HEPS

A simple, flexible packaging system for EPICS modules and related software is implemented at the High Energy Photon Source (People's Republic of China), which also produces reusable modular `input/output controller' (IOC) executables that can be composed to replace many multi-device IOC applications. A configuration convention is suggested that helps to implement easily maintainable multi-IOC setups. Also introduced is our ongoing project of comprehensive beamline services to further simplify configuration management.

In situ phase formation during high-temperature synthesis in clad mechano­composites based on the Ti–Al system

It is shown how cladding of mechano­composites with SiO₂ film affects the course of high-temperature synthesis in Ti–Al systems.

X-ray reflectivity from curved surfaces as illustrated by a graphene layer on molten copper

A method of X-ray reflectivity data reconstruction from scattering measurements on spherically curved surfaces is proposed and tested on solid and liquid surfaces.

Parameter estimation for X-ray scattering analysis with Hamiltonian Markov Chain Monte Carlo

Analyzing X-ray scattering data with the Hamiltonian Markov Chain Monte Carlo method.

Generalized pole figures from post-processing whole Debye–Scherrer patterns for microstructural analysis on deformed materials

Debye–Scherrer patterns, obtained from X-ray diffraction experiments using synchrotron light in transmission geometry, were analysed to construct generalized pole figures. Generalized orientation distribution functions of cold-rolled and then annealed interstitial-free steel were obtained to investigate microstructure developments in this material.

Novel fabrication technique for high-resolution spherical crystal analyzers using a microporous aluminium base

A new fabrication technique for spherical crystal analyzers using a microporous aluminium base is introduced. It eliminates the need for permanent bonding of the crystal to the substrate, avoiding long-term degradation of the permanent bond and making the base and crystal reusable. Using this fabrication method, diced Si(844) and Ge(337) analyzers have been characterized with high-resolution resonant inelastic X-ray scattering, a technique which is particularly sensitive to analyzer imperfections.

High-resolution electron time-of-flight spectrometers for angle-resolved measurements at the SQS Instrument at the European XFEL

A set of electron time-of-flight spectrometers for high-resolution angle-resolved spectroscopy has been developed for the Small Quantum Systems (SQS) instrument at the SASE3 soft X-ray branch of the European XFEL.

Heavy metals concentrations and speciation of Pb and Ni in airborne particulate matter over two residential sites in Greater Cairo – reflection from synchrotron radiation

XANES and X-ray fluorescence combined with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry were used to quantify and identify heavy metals concentrations as well as the chemical speciation of Pb and Ni, which have considerable public health impacts in Egypt.

In situ determination of the extreme damage resistance behavior in stomatopod dactyl club

Multiscale structural and mechanical characterization of stomatopod cuticle under in situ spherical projectile penetrating loadings. In this work the full dynamic crack evolutionary process and other toughening mechanisms inside the dactyl club under high-speed impact were uncovered.

X-ray zooming optics for analyzer-based multi-contrast computed tomography

An X-ray analyzer-based optics with a zoom function is proposed for observing various samples with apparent-absorption contrast, phase contrast and scattering contrast. Proof-of-principle experiments were performed and tri-modal contrast cross-sectional images of a sample were obtained at 1× and 10× magnification.

Single-exposure X-ray phase imaging microscopy with a grating interferometer

This work presents and extends the single-exposure phase imaging capabilities of X-ray grating interferometry as demonstrated by an implementation at beamline I13-1 of the Diamond Light Source. The results are especially relevant for future single-pulse imaging experiments at X-ray free-electron lasers.

Dose-efficient multimodal microscopy of human tissue at a hard X-ray nanoprobe beamline

This work presents the implementation of combined high-resolution X-ray in-line holography and X-ray fluorescence microscopy within the same experimental setup at a hard X-ray nanofocusing beamline. In-line holography provides morphological information by recovering electron density maps, even on weakly scattering or low-contrast samples; X-ray fluorescence provides complementary chemical information by producing element-specific mass density maps.

Real-time streaming tomographic reconstruction with on-demand data capturing and 3D zooming to regions of interest

A new instrument for real-time reconstruction of three arbitrary slices of raw tomographic projection data streaming from a 2D detector is presented. The instrument allows for quick 3D zooming to regions of interest defined by the intersection of the reconstructed slices, data capturing to HDF5 files whenever required, and changing of all data collection parameters during the streaming.

Ring artifact and Poisson noise attenuation via volumetric multiscale nonlocal collaborative filtering of spatially correlated noise

Streaks and Poissonian noise in tomography data are attenuated using a new two-stage multiscale volumetric filtering framework where the degradations are modeled as correlated noise. The procedure is fully automatic, offers improved feature preservation, and can be further combined with regularized reconstructions to deliver state-of-the-art imaging quality.

Evaluation of imaging setups for qu­antitative phase contrast nanoCT of mineralized biomaterials

This work evaluates the impact of experimental conditions on image quality when performing synchrotron X-ray in-line phase contrast nano-tomography on mineralized biomaterials. For this purpose, a computational procedure to investigate signal-to-noise ratio and spatial resolution is proposed.

In situ characterization of liquids at high pressure combining X-ray tomography, X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption using the white beam station at PSICHÉ

The feasibility of density measurements at extreme conditions of pressure and temperature is demonstrated using the X-ray absorption method. This technique has been integrated with other existing techniques available at the white beam station of PSICHÉ.

Single-shot spectrometer using diamond microcrystals for X-ray free-electron laser pulses

A spectrometer using diamond microcrystals is proposed and demonstrated to diagnose the spectral properties of X-ray free-electron laser pulses.

Shear displacement gradient in X-ray Bragg coherent diffractive imaging

Experimental data are used to extract additional information on external stresses and surface dislocations through the perpendicular component of the atomic displacement gradient retrieved with Bragg coherent diffractive imaging.

Effect of clamping force on distortion of the optical surface of monochromators during assembly

This work demonstrates the effects of clamping force on the optical surface of a monochromator silicon crystal through the use of finite-element analysis.

Design and performance of a dedicated coherent X-ray scanning diffraction instrument at beamline NanoMAX of MAX IV

The design and the basic performances of the diffraction endstation of the NanoMAX beamline of MAX IV Laboratory in Lund are presented. Designed to perform scanning diffraction, the endstation is adapted to single-particle imaging as well as scanning fluorescence microscopy, tomography, and 2D and 3D ptychography in forward and Bragg geometries, using high-flux nanofocused (coherent) X-ray beams in the energy range between 5 and 28 keV.

Water-cooled magnetic coupling drive attenuator design for wiggler light source in the TPS 31A beamline

A water-cooled magnetic coupling attenuator design is presented.

Serial macromolecular crystallography at ALBA Synchrotron Light Source

We report the first SSX experiments with viscous jets conducted at ALBA beamline BL13-XALOC. We confirm that the current capabilities at BL13-XALOC enable atomic resolution determination of protein structures from microcrystals using viscous jets at room tem­per­ature.

The meV XUV-RIXS facility at UE112-PGM1 of BESSY II

Resonant inelastic X-ray scattering in the XUV-regime with few meV bandwidth has been implemented at the dedicated low-energy beamline UE112-PGM1 at BESSY II.

Tofu: a fast, versatile and user-friendly image processing toolkit for computed tomography

The versatile and user-friendly image processing toolkit tofu, optimized for 3D reconstruction of parallel beam, cone beam, tomography and laminography data, is presented.

ID23-2: an automated and high-performance microfocus beamline for macromolecular crystallography at the ESRF. Corrigendum

Corrections to Table 2 of Nanao et al. [J. Synchrotron Rad. (2022). 29, 581–590] are reported.

Millisecond timescale reactions observed via X-ray spectroscopy in a 3D microfabricated fused silica mixer. Corrigendum

A figure in the article by Huyke et al. [(2021), J. Synchrotron Rad. 28, 1100–1113] is corrected.