May. 13, 2013

X-ray Free-electron Lasers: Observing the Movement of Electrons around Atoms

X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) produce higher-power laser pulses over a broader range of energies compared with most other x-ray sources. Although the pulse durations currently available are enormously useful for the study of materials, even shorter pulses are needed to observe features such as electrons at subatomic scales. Takashi Tanaka from the Riken SPring-8 Center has now proposed a theoretical pulse-amplification scheme that allows for the production of ultrashort x-ray pulses at extremely high energies.
moreApr. 30, 2013

New Metrics for X-ray and Neutron Analysis of Flexible Macromolecules

A dramatic leap forward in the ability of scientists to study the structural states of macromolecules such as proteins and nanoparticles in solution has been achieved by a pair of researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab). The researchers have developed a new set of metrics for analyzing data acquired via small angle scattering (SAS) experiments with X-rays (SAXS) or neutrons (SANS). Among other advantages, this will reduce the time required to collect data by up to 20 times.
moreMar. 28, 2012

Benchtop X-ray Diffraction Analyzers

Rigaku Corporation has added MiniFlex 600 and MiniFlex 300 to its MiniFlex series of benchtop X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyzers. 
The 5th generation MiniFlex is a general purpose X-ray diffractometer that can perform qualitative and quantitative analysis of polycrystalline materials.
Key Features of MiniFlex 600
◦ 600 W X-ray Source
◦ Fast Analysis
◦ Improved Overall Throughput
◦ D/teX High Speed detector (Optional) moreFeb. 17, 2012

Positioning Systems for Vacuum Applications

PI miCos - Specialist for Precise Positioning Systems in a Vacuum: A wide variety of applications in microscopy or optical measurement technology require a sample or an optical element to be positioned in a vacuum of up to 10-11 hPa. One approach consists of positioners with vacuum stepper motors - from simple linear or rotation units to Hexapods and spacefabs that allow six-axis positioning in the smallest spaces with high accuracies of a few micrometers. moreFeb. 15, 2012

EMBL Discovers the Stretching of Helices

Scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Hamburg, Germany, have discovered that the elastic part of the protein myomesin can stretch to two and a half times its original length, unfolding in a way that was up to now unknown. moreFeb. 13, 2012

Full-Field MicroXRF Imaging

To obtain volumetric information on the chemical composition inside objects, a full-field micro X-ray fluorescence (microXRF) imaging technique has been implemented. Opposed to the traditional point-by-point methods using confocal imaging, this new method collects complete 2D XRF projections of 3D objects without any scanning. And in contrast with EDX surface mapping in an SEM, having complete information from the entire volume allows creating 3D XRF images non-destructively by tomographic reconstruction. moreDec. 09, 2011

Microscope for High Spatial Resolution X-Ray Nanospectroscopy

Dr. Peter Guttmann and the microscopy group of PD Dr. Gerd Schneider at the Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin (HZB) Institute Soft Matter and Functional Materials have developed a new microscope for high spatial resolution X-ray spectroscopic studies. moreNov. 07, 2011

Andor Presents High Energy Camera Detection Systems

The high energy camera detection portfolio from Andor Technology addresses a wide variety of imaging and spectroscopy applications from cell structure studies and medical research to material analysis. moreJul. 06, 2011

Developing a X-ray Source: From X-ray Free-electron Lasers to Biomedical Imaging

Two Colorado State University laser researchers are working to develop an X-ray source for the U.S. Department of Energy that could be used in everything from X-ray free-electron lasers to biomedical imaging. moreFeb. 03, 2011

Terahertz Flashes Enable Accurate X-ray Measurements

Terahertz Flashes Enable Accurate X-ray Measurements: Many physical and chemical processes occur on extremely short time and length scales - as a rule within quadrillionths of a second on lengths of billionths of a metre. Researchers study such processes using intense ultrashort X-ray flashes. It is well known from photography: the faster a process occurs, the shorter the exposure must be which makes it visible.
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