Towards performing high-resolution inelastic X-ray scattering measurements at hard X-ray free-electron lasers coupled with energetic laser drivers

High-resolution inelastic X-ray scattering measurements at hard X-ray free-electron lasers coupled with energetic laser drivers have shown a 2.5-fold improved energy resolution compared with previous experiments at similar XFEL instruments. Aspects of the experimental design that can be adjusted to improve the number of recorded photons on the detector are discussed.

Shot-to-shot two-dimensional photon intensity diagnostics within megahertz pulse-trains at the European XFEL

Systematic fluctuations in the pulse–pulse intensity profile of a MHz X-ray free-electron laser (FEL) source have been observed that are not described by fundamental FEL theory. The sensitivity of these fluctuations to modifications of the electron-beam orbit in the accelerator is demonstrated as a potential route to beam optimization.

An automated approach to the alignment of compound refractive lenses

The efficacy of an automatic technique to align compound refractive lenses at beamline facilities is demonstrated. The algorithm is presented in its entirety, along with the results of numerical simulations and an implementation at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory, USA.

The time-resolved atomic, molecular and optical science instrument at the Linac Coherent Light Source

The newly constructed time-resolved atomic, molecular and optical science instrument (TMO), configured to take full advantage of both linear accelerators at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, the copper accelerator operating at a repetition rate of 120 Hz providing high per-pulse energy as well as the superconducting accelerator operating at a repetition rate of about 1 MHz providing high average intensity, is described.

The COMIX polarimeter: a compact device for XUV polarization analysis

The COMIX instrument, a novel compact polarimeter for XUV light based on conical mirrors, has been tested and characterized. Through a time-resolved experiment on a ferrimagnetic thin film, it is shown that the device has the potential to become a versatile tool for research in femtomagnetism.

Study of interface reaction in a B₄C/Cr mirror at elevated temperature using soft X-ray reflectivity

Non-destructive interface characterization of boron carbide shows a significant change at 550°C in the interface region formed between an adhesive chromium layer and native oxide layer on silicon substrate, whereas the principal layer of boron carbide remains stable.

Analytic descriptions of parabolic X-ray mirrors

Exact analytic descriptions of parabolic, paraboloidal, and parabolic cylindrical X-ray mirrors in a mirror-centered coordinate system for design, modeling, fabrication, and testing are given.

Derivation of closed-form ellipsoidal X-ray mirror shapes from Fermat's principle

The derivation of closed-form expressions for ellipsoidal mirror surfaces from the Fermat principle, in terms of the object and image distances, and the glancing angle of incidence, in mirror-centered coordinates is given.

Development and magnetic field measurement of a 0.5-m-long superconducting undulator at IHEP

A 0.5 m-long planar superconducting undulator prototype has been developed at the Institute of High Energy Physics in China. The performance of this prototype was investigated based on a vertical test system.

Flexible positioning of a large area detector using an industrial robot

An industrial robot is being successfully used to position a diffraction detector system at the DIAD beamline at Diamond Light Source. Weighing a total of 139 kg, the detector system can be positioned with a linear repeatability of <19.7 µm and a rotational repeatability of <16.3 µrad. The detector position stays stable for a 12 h period with <10.1 µm of movement for linear displacement, and <3.8 µrad for rotational displacement.

3D-printed SAXS chamber for controlled in situ dialysis and optical characterization

A 3D printed X-ray chamber which allows for in situ exchange of buffer and in situ optical transmission spectroscopy is presented.

Innovative pressure environment combining hydrostatic pressure gradient and mechanical compression for structural investigations of nanoporous soft films

The innovative pressure cell described, suitable for X-ray measurements combining both hydraulic and compressive pressures, is well adapted for studying poromechanical coupling in soft environments.

Modification of the Langendorff system of the isolated beating heart for experimental radiotherapy at a synchrotron: 4000 Gy in a heart beat

The modification of the Langendorff model of the isolated beating heart for microbeam irradiation studies and the results of the first pilot experiment, conducted at the Biomedical and Imaging beamline (IMBL) of the Australian Synchrotron, are reported.

Qu­antitative analysis of diffraction by liquids using a pink-spectrum X-ray source

A new approach to compute structure factors, radial distribution function and mean density from liquid scattering data in a pink X-ray source is described.

Implementing and evaluating far-field 3D X-ray diffraction at the I12 JEEP beamline, Diamond Light Source

Three-dimensional X-ray diffraction (3DXRD) has been implemented and demonstrated to be feasible at the I12 JEEP beamline using a single-phase ferritic steel sample. Measurements and associated accuracies of position, orientation and strain state of around 2000 grains were determined. These were obtained from a customized data acquisition and analysis pipeline based on the FABLE software package.

Qu­antifying signal quality in scanning transmission X-ray microscopy

Quantifying sources of error in X-ray transmission measurements provides objective guidance for questions of optimum sample thickness and beamline configuration for higher-order suppression.

Approach to electrochemical modulating differential extended X-ray absorption fine structure

The quantitative relationship between phase-sensitive detection demodulation and difference spectrum is derived and used to quantitatively analyze the electrochemical modulation excitation X-ray absorption spectrum.

SyncMRT: a solution to image-guided synchrotron radiotherapy for quality assurance and pre-clinical trials

A pre-clinical image guidance solution capable of achieving sub-millimetre alignment to the synchrotron beam has been implemented on the Imaging and Medical Beamline (IMBL) at the ANSTO Australian Synchrotron. Our solution, consisting of hardware, software and quality assurance protocols, has become the new standard for all image-guided radiotherapy experiments on the IMBL.

Rigid registration algorithm based on the minimization of the total variation of the difference map

A new dissimilarity metric based on the total variation of the difference map between an image pair is proposed for rigid registration applications. A rigid registration method based on a new metric – total variation of the difference map – is tested and compared with the Fourier analysis-based phase correlation and sum of squared difference metrics.

The Inner Shell Spectroscopy beamline at NSLS-II: a facility for in situ and operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy for materials research

Technical specifications of the Inner Shell Spectroscopy beamline at the National Synchrotron Light Source II of Brookhaven National Laboratory are described.

Emergence of the first XAFS/XRF beamline in the Middle East: providing studies of elements and their atomic/electronic structure in pluridisciplinary research fields

The XAFS/XRF beamline is the first operational beamline at SESAME and in the Middle East. It is a hard X-ray absorption spectroscopy beamline combining the XRF (X-ray fluorescence) and XAFS (X-ray absorption fine structure) techniques that are applied to a broad scientific community.

Multimodal X-ray probe station at 9C beamline of Pohang Light Source-II

A multimodal X-ray probe station has been developed and commissioned at the 9C coherent X-ray scattering beamline of the Pohang Light Source-II. Results from the in situ annealing of ZnO thin films and the performance of ZnO nanostructure-based X-ray photodetectors are presented for demonstration.

pyXPCSviewer: an open-source interactive tool for X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy visualization and analysis

The Python-based graphical user interface pyXPCSviewer that is deployed at beamline 8-ID-I of the Advanced Photon Source for interactive visualization of X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy results is introduced.

Serial macromolecular crystallography at ALBA Synchrotron Light Source. Erratum

A PDB code given in Table 2 of Martin-Garcia et al. [J. Synchrotron Rad. (2022). 29, 896–907] is corrected.