The AI Concierge: institutional design for recording, reconnection, and mutual growth at SPring-8-II

This Scientific Comment proposes the AI Concierge as an institutional design for recording and responsibly reusing tacit experimental judgments at synchrotron facilities. It specifies a minimum operational model that combines AI-assisted drafting with human confirmation, governance, provenance, and safeguards for knowledge reconnection.

High-purity X-ray polarimetry at high energies for Mössbauer spectroscopy

This work extends high-purity X-ray polarimetry into the 15–30 keV range, enabling polarization-filtered synchrotron Mössbauer spectroscopy of higher-energy nuclear resonances. A proof-of-principle experiment at 22.494 keV demonstrates a polarization purity of (1.2 ± 0.5) × 10⁻⁸, establishing the feasibility of the approach.

XAS3DLive: an interactive X-ray absorption spectroscopy simulation/fitting platform for atomic 3D structure characterization

An interactive X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) simulation/fitting platform for atomic 3D structure characterization integrates machine-learning-driven XAS simulation, 3D structure visualization and editing, and experimental XAS fitting into one unity for fast and user-friendly analysis.

Design and performance of a capacitor-based burn-through monitor for high-power X-ray beams at XFEL facilities

We present the results of testing 92 prototypes of a capacitor-based burn-through monitor at the LCLS XCS and XPP endstations. We quantify the beam energy density thresholds required to induce a detectable high-voltage electrical short prior to complete burn-through and demonstrate the reliability of this scalable, low-cost solution for machine and personnel protection at high-power light sources.

Systematic investigation of the diffraction efficiency of sub-15 nm resolution soft X-ray zone plates via simulation and measurement

This study presents systematic measurements and rigorous coupled-wave analysis of relative and absolute diffraction efficiencies for sub-15 nm soft X-ray Fresnel zone plates. By decoupling intrinsic optical performance from practical beamline transmission losses, this work establishes a highly reliable metrology framework to support the development of next-generation high-resolution synchrotron optics.

Polynomial-shaped electrodes for adaptive X-ray optics

A shaped electrode design for lithium niobate adaptive X-ray mirrors connects actuator degrees of freedom to specific polynomial orders, enabling general shape control and the correction of defocus, coma and fourth-order aberrations with a limited number of inputs.

Mirror alignment by particle swarm optimization for synchrotron radiation beamlines

A particle swarm optimization-based automated two-mirror alignment method was developed to restore high-flux beams in approximately 5 min, and its 15 month deployment demonstrated its robustness and reliability.

From analytical to data-driven: multi-method optimization of a bendable mirror system for dynamic focusing

A small-radius-of-curvature bendable mirror system is developed for dynamic focusing in X-ray free-electron laser and synchrotron radiation beamlines, and a transfer-learning neural-network and differential-evolution framework is used for force-to-shape modeling and inverse optimization. The method achieves nanometre-level surface-profile prediction and sub-newton end-force recovery, providing an efficient route for rapid and repeatable tuning of active X-ray focusing mirrors.

Towards data-driven predictive maintenance for vacuum ion pumps at European XFEL

This paper presents a machine-learning-based approach for early fault detection in vacuum ion pumps at the European XFEL by analyzing pressure data to detect fault precursors. The developed method enables predictive maintenance, reducing unplanned downtime and improving operational reliability.

Development of a wide field of view X-ray imaging detector and its application in X-ray multi-scale imaging

A wide field of view X-ray imaging detector has been developed, and applied to wide-range X-ray multi-scale imaging to visualize a relatively large object from its entire structure to the cellular level.

Correlative X-ray imaging and fluorescence microscopy in hydrated environments

We present a combined imaging platform that integrates beamline-compatible fluorescence microscopy with scanning small-angle X-ray scattering to enable sequential multimodal investigations of hydrated cells under near-native conditions. We apply our method to ordered cytoskeletal structures in different cell types and demonstrate the direct correlation between both methods, thereby establishing a versatile approach for studying cellular architecture.

Design and testing of a compact triple differential pumping chamber for gas attenuators

This paper presents a triple differential pumping chamber based on 3D printing and machining to realize a compact, rapid, and cost-effective pressure transition for the differential pumping system of gas attenuators. Finite element analysis methods and experimental tests were employed to verify its differential performance. The results reflect its application prospects in differential pumping systems, providing a useful reference for the differential pumping system design of gas attenuators.

Time-resolved coherent X-ray scattering analysis of nanorod colloids: dynamics and photon-statistical effects in angular X-ray cross-correlation analysis

A statistical framework combining angular X-ray cross-correlation analysis, principal component analysis and photon-counting simulations is presented for evaluating the detectability of orientational fluctuations in time-resolved coherent X-ray scattering experiments.

High-resolution monochromator for the 8.41 keV ¹⁶⁹Tm nuclear resonance

A high-resolution monochromator for the 8.41 keV ¹⁶⁹Tm nuclear resonance is presented enabling nuclear resonant scattering on Tm compounds at PETRA III beamline P01. Hyperfine parameters and phonon densities of states of metallic Tm and Tm₂O₃ are studied.

Diamond compound refractive lenses for high-energy dark field X-ray microscopy

In this work, we compare and quantify the performance of compound refractive lenses fabricated from single-crystal diamond against conventional beryllium and aluminium counterparts under bright-field conditions and show dark-field imaging applications for the diamond compound refractive lens.

A low-cost 3D printed resin cell for multimodal X-ray characterization of bio-cementation between two particles

A novel, low-cost 3D printed resin flow cell is presented, in which two particles can be placed in contact at a synchrotron beamline for interrupted in situ measurements.

A user-friendly platform for deep-learning-based image enhancement in scanning X-ray microscopy

A graphical user interface is developed for deep-learning-based image enhancement in scanning X-ray microscopy. By incorporating the intensity of the probe and scan parameters, the graphical user interface enables accessible and reproducible super-resolution and deblurring of scanning X-ray datasets, supporting improved analysis of X-ray fluorescence, differential phase-contrast, and related synchrotron imaging data.

Fast scanning chip calorimetry coupled with synchrotron SAXS: an easy-to-use plug-in setup for standard SAXS beamlines

The custom in situ fast scanning chip calorimetry–small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) setup developed in this work enables synchronized calorimetric measurements and continuous SAXS acquisition with millisecond time resolution during ultrafast thermal protocols. By complementing the calorimetric signal with direct structural information, the method reveals cooling-rate-dependent non-integer-folded chain configurations and follows the evolution of lamellar thickness in the ultra-long monodisperse n-alkane n-C₃₉₀H₇₈₂ during heating at 1000 K s⁻¹.

A versatile on-axis visualization system for the macromolecular crystallography beamline BM07 at the ESRF

A compact on-axis microscope installed on the endstation of the macromolecular crystallography beamline BM07 at the ESRF is described. The system combines dual-magnification on-axis sample visualization with on-axis laser injection and fluorescence measurements in back-scattering geometry. Its integration within the beamline control software is presented. The device is intended to support routine sample centring, light-triggered kinetic crystallography and high-pressure crystallography experiments.

A femtosecond time-resolved Bragg coherent diffraction imaging experimental setup at PAL-XFEL for nanoscale lattice dynamics studies

The XSS beamline at PAL-XFEL provides a femtosecond time-resolved Bragg coherent X-ray diffraction imaging setup, optimized for tracking transient lattice dynamics and nanoscale strain fields within single crystals during dynamic processes.

DanMAX – a beamline for materials science using powder X-ray diffraction, total scattering, and full-field tomographic imaging

The DanMAX beamline at the MAX IV laboratory is designed for in situ and in operando studies using powder X-ray diffraction, total scattering, and full-field imaging in the 15–35 keV energy range.

Construction and performance of the millisecond-to-second QXAFS platform at SSRF BL11B for in situ dynamic characterization

A millisecond-resolution QXAFS platform has been established at SSRF BL11B for in situ and operando X-ray absorption studies. The platform demonstrates spectrum acquisition times down to 10 ms for XANES and 16.7 ms for full-range EXAFS, while quantitative analysis of finite-response and statistical limits indicates practically recommended monochromator oscillation frequencies of approximately 4 Hz for full-range EXAFS (∼1000 eV scan window) and approximately 30 Hz for XANES (∼130 eV scan window).

MIR2-Toolkit: a Python program for multiple-image radiography analysis with integrated silicon-crystal diffraction modeling tools

MIR2-Toolkit is an open-source Python program for analyzer-based multiple-image radiography analysis with integrated silicon-crystal diffraction modeling tools and a sample dataset for reproducible evaluation.