Optimizing a photon absorber using conformal cooling channels and additive manufacturing in copper

This study optimizes a Diamond Light Source photon absorber using additive manufactured (AM; 3D printing) conformal cooling channels in copper, achieving a maximum temperature drop of 11%, pressure drop reduction of 82% and examination of the AM print quality and its compliance with synchrotron and particle accelerator hardware applications using custom benchmark artefacts. These improvements can reduce thermal fatigue failure, component size, vibrations and energy consumption of absorbers, boosting overall facility efficiency, reliability and beam stability.

An automated and robust method for modelling X-ray beamlines with plane grating monochromators

A new set of tools to allow more accurate modelling of plane grating monochromators in SHADOW3 are presented.

An injector testbed based on a direct current gun and an interchangeable very high frequency gun for superconducting continuous-wave free-electron lasers

An injector testbed for continuous-wave free-electron lasers based on a direct current gun and an interchangeable very high frequency gun is under construction. Its physical design and performance have been studied carefully.

Characterization of cryo-cooled silicon crystal monochromators via measurement of flux versus power

The resilience of recently upgraded double-crystal monochromators under increasing power load at Diamond Light Source is discussed. Experimental evidence and modelling are described.

Design and commissioning of the first superconducting undulator for the BioSAXS beamline at the Australian Synchrotron

The performance and experience with one of the first commercially constructed conduction cooled superconducting undulators (SCU16) for the BioSAXS beamline at the Australian Synchrotron are described.

Versatile X-ray reflector extension setup for grazing-incidence experiments at SAXS facilities for liquid surface study

We present an easily assembled, low-cost beam-tilting extension for synchrotron-based ultra-small-angle X-ray scattering (USAXS) / small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) beamlines enabling grazing-incidence (GIUSAXS) and transmitted (GTUSAXS) experiments on liquid surfaces with negligible loss of X-ray flux. The setup is implemented at the sample stage with ∼0.5 m of additional space and provides incidence angles up to ∼0.6°, corresponding to approximately twice the critical angle of typical reflector materials.

Coaxial helium electrospray for single-particle imaging at X-ray free electron lasers

This study presents the Coaxial Helium Electrospray (CHeES) technique, employing a 3D-printed microfluidic coaxial nozzle to broaden the single particle imaging sample range at XFELs, enhancing sample conductivity support and reducing background noise.

A microfocus study on basic-oxygen-furnace slag thin sections to understand the principles of vanadium incorporation

A synchrotron-based multi-modal approach shows the presence of a new vanadium-containing compound in basic-oxygen-furnace slags.

A versatile framework for attitude tuning of beamlines at light source facilities

A versatile Mamba-based software framework for automated attitude tuning of beamlines is reported, which is expected to be able to cover most attitude-tuning needs (beam focusing, sample alignment etc.) in a simple and maintainable way. As well as a few real-world examples at the High Energy Photon Source and Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility, both in China, also presented is a virtual-beamline mechanism based on easily customisable simulated detectors and motors.

AF4-to-SAXS: expanded characterization of nanoparticles and proteins at the P12 BioSAXS beamline

By coupling asymmetrical-flow field-flow fractionation to small-angle X-ray scattering (AF4–SAXS), we enable precise, size-resolved analysis of polydisperse samples. Our automated AF4–SAXS system at the EMBL P12 beamline streamlines workflows, making advanced characterization accessible to both novice and experienced users, with principles adaptable to other facilities.

High-luminosity meV-resolution single-shot hard X-ray spectrograph for cavity-based X-ray free-electron lasers

Theoretical background, optical design, experimental test results, and numerical simulations of the high-luminosity meV-resolution single-shot hard X-ray spectrograph for spectral diagnostics of cavity-based X-ray free-electron lasers are presented.

Proposal of a vertically polarized superconducting multipole wiggler using Nb₃Sn coils

We propose a vertically polarized superconducting multipole wiggler (V-SC-MPW) designed to reduce emittance growth. This paper presents a low-field, short-period design utilizing Nb₃Sn coils, demonstrating its feasibility for vertically polarized hard X-ray generation in modern low-emittance rings with minimal impact on beam quality.

Hyper-resolution in X-ray emission spectroscopy: integrating extended-range high energy resolution fluorescence detection and multiple-crystal spectrometry with advanced binary data splicing

A robust integration is introduced of the extended-range high energy resolution fluorescence detection technique, multiple-crystal spectrometers and binary data splicing techniques for the further refinement of spectra in X-ray emission spectroscopy, revealing deeper insights into material properties and atomic transitions.

Two-metal-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure analysis of oxygen octahedral rotation in SrTiO₃ using the reverse Monte Carlo method

Improved accuracy of the octahedral local rotation in SrTiO₃ has been achieved by simultaneous two-metal-edge EXAFS refinement.

Modeling of X-ray pulse propagation in beamline systems using a 6D phase space ray-tracing method

This work develops a 6D phase space tracing module in the FURION software. The 6D phase space tracing provides a solution for the rapid simulation of ultrashort pulse propagation in X-ray beamlines, especially in dispersive beamline systems.

High-resolution electron–multi-ion coincidence set-up for gas-phase experiments in the tender and hard X-ray range

The MUSTACHE setup, described in this work, provides a state-of-the-art approach for investigating phenomena induced by high-energy X-rays, specifically targeting deep-core ionization, Auger cascades, and molecular photofragmentation triggered by these processes. Optimized for the tender and hard X-ray range, this high-resolution electron–multi-ion coincidence setup enables efficient detection of high-kinetic-energy electrons and their correlated ions with high momentum resolution.

Qu­antitative assessment of ohmic-type CdTe sensor response in a photon-counting X-ray imaging detector under continuous 12–49 keV irradiations

This paper presents the evaluation results of the response of a pixelated photon-counting detector, equipped with ohmic-type cadmium telluride sensors, under high-energy X-ray irradiations.

Structural biology at the National Synchrotron Light Source II

We describe the structural biology resources available at the National Synchrotron Light Source II at Brookhaven National Laboratory and ponder the future for automated experiments, micro-focusing crystallography and structure prediction to inform structural biology studies.

An in situ visualization system using synchrotron white X-rays to investigate the solidification behaviors of metallic materials

This study introduces an advanced in situ visualization system using synchrotron white X-rays, enabling real-time imaging with micrometre resolution to investigate the solidification behaviors of metallic materials. These findings advance the understanding of microstructural evolution during melting and solidification, contributing to the development of materials with optimized properties.

The IMAGE beamline at the KIT Light Source

The superconducting wiggler beamline IMAGE at the KIT Light Source, dedicated to full-field hard X-ray imaging applications in materials and life sciences, with a focus on high-throughput computed tomography, laminography experiments and systematic in situ and operando studies, is described.

A cross-correlator-based timing tool for FemtoMAX

A novel timing tool suited for FemtoMAX is described. This will allow sub-100 fs time-resolved measurements at FemtoMAX.

ALS-ENABLE: creating synergy and opportunity at the Advanced Light Source synchrotron structural biology beamlines

A description of the beamlines within the structural biology ALS-ENABLE P30 resource at the Advanced Light Source synchrotron at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is given, highlighted through the biophysical characterization of the SpyCatcher–SpyTag protein system.

Fastosh: a software for the treatment of XAFS datasets of environmental relevance or acquired in operando conditions

The main functionalities of Fastosh, especially those that are unique to the program, are presented. This notably includes various tools based on chemometry (e.g. MCR-ALS) and some functions to interprete the Fourier or wavelet transform using a quick-EXAFS modelling approach.

MARTApp: software for the processing and reconstruction of synchrotron-radiation-based magnetic tomographies

MARTApp is an open-source software for magnetic vector reconstruction of the data acquired from magnetic transmission X-ray microscopy. It automates the tasks of image normalization, alignment, computation of magnetic signal and the reconstruction of quasi-2D and -3D systems. Following the developed procedure, the magnetization of a simulated 3D magnetic texture has been recovered.

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

Corrigendum to the article by Walter et al. (2022) [J. Synchrotron Rad. 29, 957–968].