Optimal x-ray beam formation using a focusing mirror at the Langmuir synchrotron station

A beam focusing method is proposed for the Langmuir station of the Kurchatov synchrotron radiation source. This method can be implemented during experiments on recording the fluorescence yield intensity as a function of the angle between an incident beam and a sample surface. The x-ray beam is focused by a cylindrical mirror in such a way that the dimensions of the spot illuminated by the beam on a Langmuir film remain within the input angular aperture of an energy dispersive detector during scanning in the angle of incidence. The relationships for calculating the dimension of the illuminated spot in the scattering plane and the angular divergence of the focused x-ray beam are derived taking into account the dimension of the synchrotron radiation source and spherical aberration. Recommendations for optimizing station parameters and experimental conditions are presented.     

惯性约束聚变软X射线在线标定系统概念设计

长期以来,惯性约束聚变（ICF）研究软X射线诊断科学仪器设备的元器件标定工作主要依赖同步辐射光源X射线辐射计量站进行。该类装置通常与用于开展ICF研究的大型激光装置分处两地,难以满足ICF研究软X射线元器件实时实地的标定应用需求。另外,由于同步辐射和ICF激光等离子体产生的X射线辐射特性存在较大差异,同步辐射计量站的标定结果事实上也不能完全反映元器件在ICF实验应用中的计量响应特性。本文首先介绍一种基于单光学元件的软X射线紧凑型无谐波光源单色化技术,以此为基础提出研制基于ICF激光等离子体X射线源的同源、同几何位形、双束比较校准的多能量通道光源单色化系统,用于ICF应用软X射线元器件的在线标定。新系统一方面可望满足ICF软X射线元器件实时实地的标定应用需求;另一方面,其提供的标定光束的技术特征将最大可能地接近ICF激光等离子体X射线辐射本身。配备相应的X射线二极管（XRD）和标准探测器之后,该系统将形成一套具有在线自校准功能的新型多通道δ能量响应软X射线能谱仪。     

Preliminary experiment of fluorescent X-ray computed tomography to detect dual agents for biological study

The simultaneous observation of various information, such as blood flow, tissue metabolism and distribution of receptors, is quite important in order to understand the functional state of biomedical objects. The simultaneous detectability of contrast agents by fluorescent X-ray computed tomography (FXCT) with synchrotron radiation is examined in this study. The system consisted of a silicon (111) double-crystal monochromator, an X-ray slit system, a scanning table, a PIN diode, a highly purified germanium detector and an X-ray charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. The monochromatic X-ray beam energy was adjusted to 37.0 keV and collimated into a pencil beam of 1 x 1 mm. The fluorescent spectra of the K alpha lines for iodine and xenon were detected simultaneously. FXCT could image the distribution of both iodine and xenon agents in a phantom clearly and the contrast ratio was significantly better than that of transmission X-ray computed tomography images.     

X-ray stations based on cylindrical zoom lenses for nanostructural investigations using synchrotron radiation

The main results of the development of X-ray stations are presented. These stations are intended to solve problems concerning the structural biology of tissues at a high time resolution with the help of synchrotron radiation (SR) generated by the VEPP-3 storage ring (Siberian center of SR, Novosibirsk) and the Siberia-2 storage ring (National Research Centre Kurchatov Institute and the centre of nano-, bio-, information, and cognitive sciences, Moscow). The issues of selecting the optical scheme and basic parameters of X-ray optical systems are discussed. Photographs of the original designs of the constructed equipment are given. A modular approach to designing experimental facilities based on self-contained units and methods of focusing a monochromatic SR beam in the required spectral range have been developed. The technique of X-ray beam focusing by means of optical zoom lenses has been implemented. Experimental results that illustrate the possibilities of the SR-beamline hardware used for X-ray diffraction investigation of different biological objects with the help of different recording systems are presented.     

X-ray transition radiation of electrons with energy of 300 to 900 MeV in periodic multifoil radiators

Results of experiments conducted at the Tomsk synchrotron to study resonant X-ray transition radiation generated by relativistic electrons in periodic multifoil radiators are reviewed. Both the internal synchrotron beam and the external secondary electron beam from the pair magnetic γ-spectrometer with energies ranging from 300 to 900 MeV were used in the experiments. The radiators consisted of many thin amorphous foils of various materials. The generation of X-ray radiation in a compound radiator consisting of a multifoil radiator and a crystal is also studied. In this case, the resonant X-ray transition radiation generated in the multifoil radiator is diffracted in the crystal and emitted at Bragg angles, together with the parametric X-ray radiation generated in the crystal. Spectral and angular properties of the resonant X-ray transition radiation and diffracted resonant X-ray transition radiation are investigated. The ratio between the contributions from the diffracted resonant X-ray transition radiation and other types of radiation to the total coherent X-ray radiation flux generated by electrons in periodic structures and crystals is estimated.     

X-ray microanalysis near an absorption edge using synchrotron radiation: How to obtain quantitative results

X-ray absorption microanalysis by contact microscopy with synchrotron radiation potentially offers the advantages of high resolution and large fields. However, difficulties appear when quantitative results are required, due in particular to the image detectors that are used. The degree of confidence in quantitative results is examined for photographic detectors. Computer processing is performed taking into account several factors such as the recording process, emulsion response, alignment of image pairs for subtraction, presence of harmonics in the synchrotron beam. As an example we show the analysis of nickel in 20 μm thick polymetallic nodule section on an area of 5.1 × 5.1 mm².     

同步辐射计算机断层技术光源误差机理分析

基于同步辐射X射线的优越特性及计算机断层重建技术对材料无损检测等优点,同步辐射计算机断层重建技术被广泛应用于很多领域.本文对光源非均匀、过饱和以及过穿透的三种情形所引起同步辐射计算机断层技术重建误差的形成机理进行了分析研究,给出了三种情形所引起误差的基本形式.在此基础上,对这三种误差进行了数值模拟,模拟结果证实了分析的正确性. 关键词： 同步辐射 计算机断层 光源 误差     

同步辐射与GGG：Nd^3＋晶体的相互作用

用北京同步辐射489A-VUV束线作为连续光源测定了GGG:Nd~(3+)晶体的短波吸收光谱。用束线4B9A-WX作为光源激发GGG:Nd~(3+),测定了它的XEOL(X-ray excited optical luminescence)。     

第三代同步辐射光源X射线相干性测量研究

随着高性能第三代同步辐射光源的建成开放,基于X射线相干特性的实验方法得到了快速发展和广泛应用.作为一个典型的例子,X射线相位衬度成像已经成为常规的X射线实验方法并向用户开放.相干散射、相干衍射成像、光子关联谱等X射线实验方法正日益受到重视,在高空间分辨、时间分辨等研究领域已显示出其独特的优越性.因此,研究和测量第三代同步辐射的空间相干特性对进一步发展这些新的实验方法具有重要意义.基于Talbot自成像原理成功测量了上海光源X射线成像线站发射的X射线的空间相干长度,并进而测得了相应光源的空间尺度.光子能量为33.2 keV时,测得的X射线光束垂直方向空间相干长度为8.84μm,对应的光源尺寸为23μm,测量结果与理论分析相符.     

传输同步辐射X射线的锥形单毛细管的物理特性

根据北京同步辐射装置生物大分子实验站(2W1A)的条件和应用,从理论上研究了锥形单毛细管传输同步辐射X射线的物理特性.计算了锥管传输效率随锥管长度、X射线能量的变化规律;计算了锥管出口处的光强分布,强度增益随工作距离的变化规律.结果表明:与传输发散X射线相比,锥形单毛细管传输平行X射线的物理特性有明显的不同.     

Influence of synchrotron radiation on morphological features of a polymethylmetacrilate thin film

The interaction of polymethylmetacrilate (PMMA) hard films with synchrotron radiation (SR) has been studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM). It has been found that the roughness changes from 1.85 to 2.98 nm with an increase in the irradiation time for the selected beam with the energy corresponding to the hard X-ray region λ = 0.2 nm. The roughness decreases from 6.41 to 2.36 nm with an increase in the irradiation time from 1 to 17 min when photons with a lower energy are used. The interaction of radiation with PMMA leads to the appearance of nanohillocks, the average diameter and height of which depend directly proportionally on the spectral composition and SR exposure time. The revealed effects of interaction of synchrotron radiation with PMMA will help to correct the X-ray lithography conditions in electron engineering (PMMA is the basis for X-ray resist) and will allow one to control the roughness degree of the PMMA surface that is the basis for intraocular lenses.     

DEIReconstructor： a software for diffraction enhanced imaging processing and tomography reconstruction

Diffraction enhanced imaging （DEI） has been widely applied in many fields, especially when imaging low-Z samples or when the difference in the attenuation coefficient between different regions in the sample is too small to be detected. Recent developments of this technique have presented a need for a new software package for data analysis. Here, the Diffraction Enhanced Image Reconstructor （DEIReconstructor）, developed in Matlab, is presented. DEIReconstructor has a user-friendly graphical user interface and runs under any of the 32~bit or 64- bit Microsoft Windows operating systems including XP and WinT. Many of its features are integrated to support imaging preprocessing, extract absorption, refractive and scattering information of diffraction enhanced imaging and allow for parallel-beam tomography reconstruction for DEI-CT. Furthermore, many other useful functions are also implemented in order to simplify the data analysis and the presentation of results. The compiled software package is freely available.     

部分相干同步辐射照射下光栅分数塔尔博特效应

基于高斯谢尔光束的相干模式分解理论和波动光学,建立了部分相干同步辐射硬X射线光束通过光学器件的传播模型。模拟了微聚焦X射线光束照射下光栅的分数塔尔博特效应,得到了聚焦光束的光强分布和相干特性变化,并分析了散焦光束入射下的光栅自成像。然后通过模拟准直光束入射下的光栅塔尔博特效应,得到了不同传播距离处自成像条纹的变化情况,分析了影响光栅自成像条纹形状的因素。通过光栅衍射条纹测量同步辐射相干度,发现对矩形相位光栅来说,应该对衍射图样进行傅里叶分解,求出各级傅里叶系数随传播距离的变化曲线,从而得到入射光束相干特性。     

Microscopic imaging and holography with hard X-rays using Fresnel zone-plates

The imaging properties of a Fresnel zone-plate (FZP) were used for magnified imaging of microobjects using hard X-rays. The experiments were done using 14 keV synchrotron radiation. The coherence properties of the radiation produced by an undulator allowed the recording of real images and holograms from an object in one single exposure. These images result from the positive and the negative first order diffracted beams respectively. The X-ray microscope worked at an X-ray magnification factor of 12 and could resolve structures of 0.3 μm in size. By going to slightly defocused conditions we obtained magnified images of the holographical nearfield diffraction pattern (in-line holograms) of the object.     

In-line X-ray lensless imaging with lithium fluoride film detectors

In this work, we present preliminary in-line X-ray lensless projection imaging results at a synchrotron facility by using novel solid-state detectors based on non-destructive readout of photoluminescent colour centres in lithium fluoride thin films. The peculiarities of LiF radiation detectors are high spatial resolution on a large field of view, wide dynamic range, versatility and simplicity of use. These properties offered the opportunity to test a broadband X-ray synchrotron source for lensless projection imaging experiments at the TopoTomo beamline of the ANKA synchrotron facility by using a white beam spectrum (3–40 keV). Edge-enhancement effects were observed for the first time on a test object; they are discussed and compared with simulations, on the basis of the colour centre photoluminescence linear response found in the investigated irradiation conditions.     

On the formation of X-ray microbeams utilizing a short-focus refractive lens and a laboratory radiation source

The possibility of focusing an X-ray beam from a laboratory radiation source using a short-focus refractive composite lens is shown. The lens consists of 161 spherical biconcave epoxy lenses, each with a curvature radius of 50 μm. A Metal Jet (Excillium^TM) microfocus X-ray tube, with a focal-spot size of 20 μm and containing a liquid helium anode, is used as a radiation source. The size of the focal spot in the image plane is 2.4 μm, which corresponds to the theoretical estimate. The possibility of using the composite refractive lens to form a parallel polychromatic X-ray beam is demonstrated. The results obtained allow discussion of the possibility of applying short-focus refractive X-ray lenses for X-ray microanalysis using laboratory sources; such microanalysis is currently a prerogative of synchrotron radiation sources only.     

In situ investigation of synchrotron radiation damage effect of ancient paintings by time-resolved ED-XAS and IR combined techniques

Advanced synchrotron radiation light is a powerful tool for archaeometry research. However, its applications to precious cultural relics, especially for color painting, have been hindered to some degree due to potential X-ray radiation damage. Compared to inorganic mineral pigments, organic binders in the painting are easier to be damaged by synchrotron radiation X-ray beam. The radiation damage effect of two typical painting samples, pure rabbit skin glue and the mixed sample of rabbit skin glue and zinc white, has been investigated by in situ time-resolved ED-XAS and IR combined techniques. The results show that the radiation damage effect of pure rabbit skin glue is more serious at low X-ray energy (7775 eV). The radiation damage effect of the mixed sample increases significantly due to more X-ray absorption by inorganic pigments. Furthermore, the radiation damage is more serious at the energy near Zn K-edge and is somewhat slight at higher energy (13,054 eV). These damages are more obvious from the point of view of protein secondary structures. The irradiation damage effects increase more rapidly at the beginning and are not linear with the irradiating time. The results indicate that synchrotron radiation damage can be reduced effectively by using X-ray energy far away from the X-ray absorption edge of the major element in the pigments during XRF, XRD and CT experiments, or by using time-resolved techniques such as QXAFS and ED-XAS during XAFS experiments.     

Features in phase-contrast images of micropipes in SiC in white synchrotron radiation beam

An interesting feature in phase-contrast images of micropipes in silicon carbide in white synchrotron radiation beam was experimentally studied and theoretically explained. This feature consists in that a change in micropipe cross-section sizes does not lead to changes in its image sizes, but has an effect only on the contrast. The experiment was performed on the synchrotron radiation source in Pohang, South Korea. On the one hand, this effect is explained by a small phase progression caused by the micropipe, and, on the other hand, by satisfying the conditions for Fraunhofer diffraction, when the transverse micropipe size is smaller than the first Fresnel zone diameter. As a rule, the near-field conditions are satisfied in X-ray optics when only object edges are imaged. However, micropipes are so small that the standard edge theory is inapplicable. A universal intensity distribution profile was obtained for micropipes with very small cross sections.     

Mössbauer optics of synchrotron radiation at an isotopic boundary

The inelastic coherent Mössbauer scattering (ICMS) of synchrotron radiation at an isotopic boundary—a flat interface between two regions of matter which have different concentrations of the Mö ssbauer isotope—is investigated theoretically. Attention is focused primarily on the ICMS component for which the absorption of a synchrotron radiation photon by a nucleus occurs with recoil, i.e., with the creation or annihilation of lattice phonons, and the subsequent process of reemission of a photon by the Mössbauer nucleus occurs without recoil, as a result of which radiation is pumped from the wide synchrotron radiation line into the narrow Mö ssbauer line. Formulas similar to the Fresnel formulas, well known in optics, for the transmission and reflection of light at a dielectric boundary are obtained for ICMS at an isotopic boundary. Specifically, it is shown that the angle of reflection for ICMS at an isotopic boundary is different from the angle of mirror reflection of a synchrotron radiation beam, and the direction of the ICMS transmitted through the isotopic boundary depends on the deviation of its frequency from the exact value of the Mössbauer resonance frequency and in general is different from the direction of propagation of the synchrotron radiation beam. The suppression of ICMS at grazing angles of incidence of the synchrotron radiation beam is analyzed. A similar problem is solved for a plate-shaped sample containing a Mössbauer isotope. It is shown that the specific nature of the ICMS at an isotopic boundary could be helpful in the problem of Mö ssbauer filtering of synchrotron radiation.     

Transmission measurement of photo-absorption cross section of aluminum in soft X-ray region of 50 to 250 eV

The photo-absorption cross section of aluminum was obtained from the ratio of transmission of aluminum thin-films with different area densities from 50 to 250eV with synchrotron radiation monochromatic beam. Two samples with different area densities were used to minimize the uncertainty caused by the sample surface oxidation and systematic factors of the X-ray source, beamline, and detector. The experimental results are in good agreement with the published data and FEFF program calculations in general.