Opportunities with Synchrotron Radiation at the Mesoscale

What is mesoscale science? The modifier “meso” can mean different things to different communities. In many areas of science, “mesoscale” generally refers to a middle-ground domain of length, energy, or time where theories accurate at both lower and higher scales fail. In materials science, for example, mesoscale behavior often rises when quantum behavior begins to fade, collective effects become important, or statistical variation and defects appear, often at length scales larger than a few nm. However, for atmospheric scientists and ecologists, mesoscale means miles. For meterologists, mesoscale means hundreds to thousands of miles. The mesoscale arena for cosmologists is many light-years across.     

A combined microRaman and microdiffraction set‐up at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility ID13 beamline

This article describes the current status of the microRaman set‐up at the ID13 beamline of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility. This offers an in situ on‐axis microprobe which has a common focal position to the X‐ray microbeam and can collect spectral data simultaneously. It can also be used in an offline sample characterization role, both before and after beamline experiments. To demonstrate the application of microRaman spectroscopy within a beamline environment, a number of examples are given.     

Multilayer-based soft X-ray polarimeter at the Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility

A compact high precision eight-axis automatism and two-axis manual soft-ray polarimeter with a multilayer has been designed, constructed, and installed in 3W1B at the Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility (BSRF). Four operational modes in the same device, which are double-reflection, double-transmission, front-reflection-behind-transmission and front-transmission-behind-reflection, have been realized. It can be used for the polarization analysis of synchrotron radiation. It also can be used to characterize the polarization properties of the optical elements in the soft X-ray energy range. Some experiments with Mo/Si and Cr/C multilayers have been performed by using this polarimeter with good results obtained.     

在同步辐射装置中配置电流扭摆器的建议

提出了第三代同步辐射光源中的低温超导电流扭摆器和室温水冷电流扭摆器的物理设计方案。文中还讨论了电流扭摆器内腔中的磁场的分布特性，测量方法和电流扭摆器的制造技术的可行性。     

基于HIAF的物理研究(英文)

在2010年,中国科学院近代物理研究所向国家发展和改革委员会建议了重大科技基础设施--强流重离子加速器装置（High Intensity Heavy-ion Accelerator Facility,简称HIAF）。经过一系列评估和论证,HIAF于2015年12月被国家发展改革委立项。HIAF建设地址位于广东省惠州市,计划于2018年年底正式开工建造。HIAF由超导直线加速器、同步增强器、高能放射性束流线、储存环谱仪以及若干实验测量装置构成,总投资约为25亿人民币。依托HIAF,我们将拓展核素存在版图,研发先进实验技术和方法,开展前沿物理研究;同时,开展重离子束应用研究,服务国家经济社会发展。简要介绍拟建的加速器系统、实验测量装置以及相关的物理研究计划。The Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, proposed the Major National Science and Technology Infrastructure Facility named as High Intensity Heavy-ion Accelerator Facility (HIAF) in 2010. After a series of assessments charged by the National Development and Reform Commission of China, HIAF was officially approved by China government in December, 2015. HIAF will be constructed in Huizhou, Guangdong Province, and the groundbreaking ceremony of construction is scheduled around the end in the year of 2018. HIAF is composed of a superconducting Linac, a booster ring, a high-energy radioactive beam line, a storage ring, and a number of experiment setups. The total investment of HIAF is about 2.5 billion Chinese Yuan. The major goals for HIAF are to explore the hitherto unknown territories in nuclear chart, to approach the experimental limits, to open new domains of physics researches in experiments, and to develop new ideas and heavy-ion applications beneficial to the societies. In this paper, the accelerator complex of HIAF is briefly introduced, and the experimental setups and associated physics research program are presented.     

Energy spectra considerations for synchrotron radiotherapy trials on the ID17 bio‐medical beamline at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility

The aim of this study was to validate the kilovoltage X‐ray energy spectrum on the ID17 beamline at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF). The purpose of such validation was to provide an accurate energy spectrum as the input to a computerized treatment planning system, which will be used in synchrotron microbeam radiotherapy trials at the ESRF. Calculated and measured energy spectra on ID17 have been reported previously but recent additions and safety modifications to the beamline for veterinary trials warranted a fresh investigation. The authors used an established methodology to compare X‐ray attenuation measurements in copper sheets (referred to as half value layer measurements in the radiotherapy field) with the predictions of a theoretical model. A cylindrical ionization chamber in air was used to record the relative attenuation of the X‐ray beam intensity by increasing thicknesses of high‐purity copper sheets. The authors measured the half value layers in copper for two beamline configurations, which corresponded to differing spectral conditions. The authors obtained good agreement between the measured and predicted half value layers for the two beamline configurations. The measured first half value layer was 1.754 ± 0.035 mm Cu and 1.962 ± 0.039 mm Cu for the two spectral conditions, compared with theoretical predictions of 1.763 ± 0.039 mm Cu and 1.984 ± 0.044 mm Cu, respectively. The calculated mean energies for the two conditions were 105 keV and 110 keV and there was not a substantial difference in the calculated percentage depth dose curves in water between the different spectral conditions. The authors observed a difference between their calculated energy spectra and the spectra previously reported by other authors, particularly at energies greater than 100 keV. The validation of the beam spectrum by the copper half value layer measurements means the authors can provide an accurate spectrum as an input to a treatment planning system for the forthcoming veterinary trials of microbeam radiotherapy to spontaneous tumours in cats and dogs.     

A large‐solid‐angle X‐ray Raman scattering spectrometer at ID20 of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility

An end‐station for X‐ray Raman scattering spectroscopy at beamline ID20 of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility is described. This end‐station is dedicated to the study of shallow core electronic excitations using non‐resonant inelastic X‐ray scattering. The spectrometer has 72 spherically bent analyzer crystals arranged in six modular groups of 12 analyzer crystals each for a combined maximum flexibility and large solid angle of detection. Each of the six analyzer modules houses one pixelated area detector allowing for X‐ray Raman scattering based imaging and efficient separation of the desired signal from the sample and spurious scattering from the often used complicated sample environments. This new end‐station provides an unprecedented instrument for X‐ray Raman scattering, which is a spectroscopic tool of great interest for the study of low‐energy X‐ray absorption spectra in materials under in situ conditions, such as in operando batteries and fuel cells, in situ catalytic reactions, and extreme pressure and temperature conditions.     

Atomic pair distribution function method development at the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility

The atomic pair distribution function(PDF) reveals the interatomic distance in a material directly in real-space. It is a very powerful method to characterize the local structure of materials. With the help of the third generation synchrotron facility and spallation neutron source worldwide, the PDF method has developed quickly both experimentally and theoretically in recent years. Recently this method was successfully implemented at the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility(SSRF). The data quality is very high and this ensures the applicability of the method to study the subtle structural changes in complex materials. In this article, we introduce in detail this new method and show some experimental data we collected.     

Status of the hard X‐ray microprobe beamline ID22 of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility

The ESRF synchrotron beamline ID22, dedicated to hard X‐ray microanalysis and consisting of the combination of X‐ray fluorescence, X‐ray absorption spectroscopy, diffraction and 2D/3D X‐ray imaging techniques, is one of the most versatile instruments in hard X‐ray microscopy science. This paper describes the present beamline characteristics, recent technical developments, as well as a few scientific examples from recent years of the beamline operation. The upgrade plans to adapt the beamline to the growing needs of the user community are briefly discussed.     

A high‐energy‐resolution resonant inelastic X‐ray scattering spectrometer at ID20 of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility

An end‐station for resonant inelastic X‐ray scattering and (resonant) X‐ray emission spectroscopy at beamline ID20 of ESRF – The European Synchrotron is presented. The spectrometer hosts five crystal analysers in Rowland geometry for large solid angle collection and is mounted on a rotatable arm for scattering in both the horizontal and vertical planes. The spectrometer is optimized for high‐energy‐resolution applications, including partial fluorescence yield or high‐energy‐resolution fluorescence detected X‐ray absorption spectroscopy and the study of elementary electronic excitations in solids. In addition, it can be used for non‐resonant inelastic X‐ray scattering measurements of valence electron excitations.     

The Industrial Research Program at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility: The Past,the Present,and Challenges for the Future

The challenge of harnessing the power of third-generation synchrotron sources for industrial R&D has been taken up by the ESRF ever since the first users arrived in 1994. However, working with industry has its own special requirements, and often mismatches and clashes between a traditional scientific “ivory tower” culture and the needs of the market-driven commercial world. After more than 15 years of industrial research at the ESRF, during which strong industrial programs in protein crystallography and microtomography have been established, we continue to build bridges between the two worlds.     

X‐ray grating interferometer for biomedical imaging applications at Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility

An X‐ray grating interferometer was installed at the BL13W beamline of Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility (SSRF) for biomedical imaging applications. Compared with imaging results from conventional absorption‐based micro‐computed tomography, this set‐up has shown much better soft tissue imaging capability. In particular, using the set‐up, the carotid artery and the carotid vein in a formalin‐fixed mouse can be visualized in situ without contrast agents, paving the way for future applications in cancer angiography studies. The overall results have demonstrated the broad prospects of the existing set‐up for biomedical imaging applications at SSRF.     

Upgrade of beamline 3W1B at Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility

To improve the performance of Beamline 3W1B at the Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility for the soft X-ray magnetic linear dichroism research at transition metals L_{2, 3} edges, a new monochromator was designed and built to replace the original one. After the assemblage, alignment and adjustment of the monochromator system, the first commissioning results were obtained. The photon energy range is from 50 to 1000 eV with spectral resolutions of 1600 at 250 eV and 1000 at 870 eV. The photon flux is of the order of 10⁸-10⁹ photons/s/200 mA/0.1%BW. In the electron's orbital plane the linear polarization degree of the light is higher than 99% at 704 eV. The beamline has satisfied the basic experimental requirements.     

Fine Measurements of Beamilne 3B1 at Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility

At the dedicated mode (the storage ring Ee=2.0GeV) of BEPC,we measured the intensity and the spectra of Beamline 3B1 at Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility (BSRF) for different closed orbits.The optimum photon intensity and the optimization of operation condition for Beamline 3B1 were given in this paper.The results of measurements for energy spectra at different states were given and analysed also.     

上海光源X射线成像及其应用研究进展

作为具有国际先进水平的第三代同步辐射光源,上海光源的X射线亮度比普通X光管高12~16个量级,基于它的X射线成像具有高空间分辨、高衬度分辨和快时间分辨的特点,同步辐射X射线可对样品实现原位、无损、高分辨、三维和动态成像,而且可以实现相位衬度成像,从而将X射线成像的应用领域拓展到软组织、聚合物等低Z材料。自2009年正式向用户开放以来,上海光源已在生物医学、材料科学、古生物学、土壤学等领域取得了一大批重要研究成果。为更好地支持用户,上海光源X射线成像组在定量成像、CT成像、快速CT重构等成像方法学领域开展了较为全面、系统的研究,大幅提高了实验效率和对不同样品的适应性。本文简要介绍了上海光源X射线成像方法学发展及相关应用研究进展。     

Technical Report: UV and VUV Radiometry Programs at the Synchrotron Ultraviolet Radiation Facility (SURF III)

The fourth international workshop on Adaptive and Active X-ray &; XUV Optics (ACTOP11) was held on April 4–5, 2011, at Diamond Light Source in Oxfordshire, UK. This workshop follows on from earlier, successful active optic events at SOLEIL (2006), Elettra (2008), and Osaka (2009).     

Biomedical Imaging Using Synchrotron Radiation: Experience at the Biomedical Imaging and Therapy (BMIT) Facility at the Canadian Light Source

The Biomedical Imaging and Therapy (BMIT) beamlines at the Canadian Light Source (CLS) comprise a multi-modality synchrotron imaging facility capable of imaging objects with 2–200 μm resolution with beam sizes up to ~200 mm wide and ~10 mm high in the experimental hutches [1 T. W. Wysokinski, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment 775, 1–4 (2015).[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]–3 T. W. Wysokinski, Nucl Instr Meth Phys Res A 582, 73–76 (2007).[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]]. BMIT hosts two beamlines, a bend magnet 05B1-1 and an insertion device 05ID-2, with capabilities to apply absorption imaging, in-line phase contrast imaging (PCI), analyzer-based imaging (ABI) or diffraction-enhanced imaging (DEI), and K-Edge Subtraction (KES) imaging. Talbot or grating interferometry is under development.     

Implementation of ultrafast X‐ray diffraction at the 1W2B wiggler beamline of Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility

The implementation of a laser pump/X‐ray probe scheme for performing picosecond‐resolution X‐ray diffraction at the 1W2B wiggler beamline at Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility is reported. With the hybrid fill pattern in top‐up mode, a pixel array X‐ray detector was optimized to gate out the signal from the singlet bunch with interval 85 ns from the bunch train. The singlet pulse intensity is ～2.5 × 10⁶ photons pulse^?1 at 10 keV. The laser pulse is synchronized to this singlet bunch at a 1 kHz repetition rate. A polycapillary X‐ray lens was used for secondary focusing to obtain a 72 µm (FWHM) X‐ray spot. Transient photo‐induced strain in BiFeO₃ film was observed at a ～150 ps time resolution for demonstration.     

北京同步辐射软X光反射率计装置及其物理工作

介绍了安装在北京同步辐射装置上专门用于软X光多层膜研究的反射率计系统,给出了在该装置上测量得到的Al滤光片的软X光透射谱和Nb/Si多层膜的高角反射谱,用磁控溅射方法自制的Nb/Si多层膜样品在17.59um附近得到的反射率为32%.