Synchrotron radiation X-ray microfluorescence techniques and biological applications

Synchrotron X-ray imaging systems with fluorescence techniques was developed for biomedical researches in Brazilian Synchrotron Laboratory. An X-ray fluorescence microtomography system was implemented to analyse human prostate and breast samples and an X-ray microfluorescence system was implemented to study bone sites of human and animal samples with and without bone disorders.     

Long-wave X-ray radiation mirrors

Problems of obtaining mirrors for long-wave length (200-20 Å) X-radiation are discussed. Results of the investigation of roentgenooptical characteristics of multilayer periodical C-Re, C-W and C-Ta structures with periods 60–80 Å have been analyzed. The layer thickness of the heavy elements varied from 3 to 25 Å. The following characteristics have been recorded in the wavelength range λ = 50–80 Å; reflection coefficient up to 20%, resolution λ/Δλ = 7–14, width of the angular dependence R(θ)Δθ ≈ 2°. The number of effectively reflecting pairs of layers, N_max = 17, has been determined from the position of secondary diffraction maxima.     

Scattering contrast of X-ray radiation

It is experimentally established that, in the majority of cases, the X-ray radiation scattered on different constituent parts of a weakly absorbing object provides sufficient information on inner structure, different types of structural inhomogeneities, and morphological characteristics, such as shapes, sizes, and location of invisible defects of the object. In this study, a new method for investigation of the inner structure of noncrystalline materials is developed. The method is based on recording of the scattered X-ray radiation. It is demonstrated that the image contrast, formed by the X-ray radiation scattered on weakly absorbing objects, can be considerably higher than the absorption contrast.     

Scaling of betatron X-ray radiation

Energetic electron beams accelerated in a laser-produced plasma wakefield cavity can generate collimated beams of X-ray radiation. The oscillation of the electrons in the plasma cavity produces synchrotron-like emission, called betatron radiation. On the basis of state of the art experiments, we discuss the potentiality of this source in terms of spectral brigthness and flux. These characteristics are compared to existing and planned X-ray sources in both laser and accelerator communities.     

Focusing of parametric X-ray radiation

The possibility of focusing parametric x rays (PXRs) without x-ray optics has been shown. Parametric x rays are emitted by channeled relativistic charged particles moving along a bent crystal. Parametric x rays emitted from the entire length of the bent crystal are focused at two points on the bending axis of the crystal. The Huygens picture of formation of focused PXRs is given. The width of the spectral peak of this radiation has been estimated. Certain properties of focused PXRs are estimated for typical experimental conditions, and possibilities for the application of focused PXRs are discussed. An experiment for the observation of focused PXRs has been proposed. It has been shown that focused PXRs can be observed for a proton energy of several tens of GeVs or higher.     

The X-ray radiation of ultrarelativistic electrons in a crystal

The properties of the coherent X-ray radiation of the ultrarelativistic electrons in a crystal are considered. The total number of X-ray and resonant γ-ray quantum emitted in a crystal under diffraction conditions are calculated.     

The laser radiation action on the biological objects

The basic physical mechanisms of laser influence on living tissues are discussed. The role of radiation monochromaticity, self-organising and non-equilibrium of laser influence, intravenous blood photomodification of and others is considered. Laser anesthesia and antistress influence is discussed. It is experimentally confirmed biological substances solution manoclusterization under the influence of laser radiation.     

X-ray synchrotron radiation in medium

Energy and angular distributions of X-ray synchrotron radiation produced by an ultra relativistic electron moving in a medium are discussed. Calculations show that the medium suppresses strongly the yield of the radiation for the electron Lorentz factor smaller than some cut-off value depending on the medium electron density and magnetic field applied.     

X-ray lithography with synchrotron radiation

Manufactures of silicon integrated circuits increasingly rely on high resolution, high throughput, and litography techniques based on parallel mask projection. The once simple technique of projecting an image of a mask on a wafer, however, is now being replaced by more elaborate systems at an ever faster rate. Of the possible successors to photolithography in the production of structures smaller than 0.7 m, the most promising appears to be X-ray litography with synchrotron radiation. The development problems of this new technique are related to the mask technology, alignment systems, resist materials, and compact, low-cost storage rings.     

Parametric X-ray radiation from powders

Parametric X-ray Radiation (PXR) produced in powders has been observed for the first time. PXR spectra were measured under observation angles of 150° and 180° during the interaction of relativistic 7 MeV electrons with a tungsten powder. All the PXR peaks that theoretically can be produced in the studied energy region were registered. The performed absolute comparison of the experiment with the PXR kinematical theory from randomly oriented crystallites showed a good accordance.     

Picosecond X-ray plasma radiation measurements

Direct picosecond measurements of X-ray laser plasma radiation were performed with a high-speed X-ray image-converter camera (ICC). This camera operates in the single-frame mode with an exposure time ranging from 5 ns to 0.5 μs and in the streak mode with 5 × 10⁹ to 5 × 10⁷ cm/s streak velocities. Its temporal resolution in the streak mode was calculated to be about 7 ps. A plasma was created by focussing 10 ps 1 to 2 joule laser pulses onto a titanium target placed in a vacuum chamber. The halfwidth of the recorded X-ray pulses varied from 30 to 60 ps.     

A hydrodynamic X-ray radiation source

The results of experimental investigation of a flow of a weakly conductive liquid in a coaxial channel with insulating walls are presented. The possibility of forming all the necessary conditions to generate X-ray radiation when liquid moves in the channel is shown. The questions of the electrization, the charge accumulation, and its discharge are considered. It is shown that the charge intensely accumulates during liquid cavitation in small holes on the channel wall. The appearance of stable luminous cavitation threads moving in the flow is revealed in the initial segment of the channel, and their role in the discharge of the cavitation regions is determined.     

Tunable source of parametric X-ray radiation

A new design of an X-ray source with a radiation energy controllably varying from 2 to 130 keV and a radiation intensity exceeding >10^?5 photon/e^?/sr is suggested. The source is based on parametric X-ray radiation (PXR) generated by moderately relativistic electrons in an original geometry. In this geometry, kinematic bunching of PXR reflections is used, which makes it possible to increase the intensity of the source. A model to calculate the PXR characteristics that takes into account absorption of radiation, beam parameters, multiple scattering, and energy loss is developed. The monochromaticity of the source lines is estimated.     

The X-ray radiation from cathode spot fragments in laser-inducedvacuum discharges

The temporal evolution of X-ray emission of laser-induced discharges was investigated by means of a picosecond X-ray streak camera. Point-like structures with small divergence and thin hot layers of intense X-ray radiation with life time from 30 ps to 1.5 ns in a spectral range 100 eV-10 keV have been found in a comparatively low voltage vacuum discharge (U≈150 V-2.7 kV) initiated by picosecond laser beam. The radiation of laser induced breakdown was investigated just after breakdown as well as with a delay time (up to 20 ns) relative to the ignition point by the laser beam in order to eliminate the X-ray radiation coming from the laser-produced plasma     

X-ray magnetooptics based on synchrotron radiation

The conditions for obtaining a maximum magnetic signal in different experiment geometries have been analyzed on the basis of the general theory of reflection from a layered anisotropic medium. It is shown that, in the equatorial geometry in Bragg reflections from a periodic structure with antiferromagnetic interlayer ordering, amplification of linear dichroism arises, which can be observed even in the grazing geometry.     

同步辐射软X射线显微成像

软X射线显微成像是同步辐射最主要的应用之一,本文简明介绍软X射线显微成像的衬度机制,光源,成像方法和一些应用结果。     

X-ray radiation of laser plasma of carbon nanotubes

Experimental results on the spatial distribution of X-ray radiation of the plasma generated by nanosecond laser radiation incident on a target made of carbon nanotubes are presented and compared with the results obtained for solid-state magnesium targets.     

Kinematic grouping of reflections of parametric X-ray radiation

A model of parametric X-ray radiation (PXR) of moderately relativistic particles is developed within the kinematic theory taking into account radiation absorption. The model allows calculation of the PXR reflection intensity in a given direction taking into account diffraction of virtual photons on a set of “incidental” low-index crystallographic planes. It is shown that when a charged particle moves along certain crystallographic directions, the effect of kinematic grouping of reflections, at which lines of parametric radiation from various planes practically coincide, is observed.     

New possibilities of X-ray nanocrystallography of biological macromolecules based on X-ray free-electron lasers

X-ray serial nanocrystallography is a new technique for determining the three-dimensional structure of biological macromolecules from data on the diffraction of ultrashort pulses generated by X-ray free-electron lasers. The maximum achievable resolution for a set of experimental data as a function of the sample sizes and parameters of the equipment is estimated based on simulations of the diffraction process with allowance for changes in the electronic structure of the atoms of the sample under the influence of X-rays. Estimates show that nanocrystallography greatly enhances the possibilities of X-ray analysis, reducing the requirements for the minimum permitted size of the crystals and enabling to explore poorly crystallizable molecular objects, such as many membrane proteins and complexes of macromolecules.