Optimizing the energy bandwidth for transmission full-field X-ray microscopy experiments

Full-field transmission X-ray microscopy (TXM) is a very potent high-resolution X-ray imaging technique. However, it is challenging to achieve fast acquisitions because of the limited efficiency of the optics. Using a broader energy bandwidth, for example using a multilayer monochromator, directly increases the flux in the experiment. The advantage of more counts needs to be weighed against a deterioration in achievable resolution because focusing optics show chromatic aberrations. This study presents theoretical considerations of how much the resolution is affected by an increase in bandwidth as well as measurements at different energy bandwidths (ΔE/E = 0.013%, 0.27%, 0.63%) and the impact on achievable resolution. It is shown that using a multilayer monochromator instead of a classical silicon double-crystal monochromator can increase the flux by an order of magnitude with only a limited effect on the resolution.

Thermal optimization of a high-heat-load double-multilayer monochromator

Finite-element analysis is used to study the thermal deformation of a multilayer mirror due to the heat load from the undulator beam at a low-emittance synchrotron source, specifically the ESRF-EBS upgrade beamline EBSL-2. The energy bandwidth of the double-multilayer monochromator is larger than that of the relevant undulator harmonic, such that a considerable portion of the heat load is reflected. Consequently, the absorbed power is non-uniformly distributed on the surface. The geometry of the multilayer substrate is optimized to minimize thermally induced slope errors. We distinguish between thermal bending with constant curvature that leads to astigmatic focusing or defocusing and residual slope errors. For the EBSL-2 system with grazing angles θ between 0.2 and 0.4°, meridional and sagittal focal lengths down to 100 m and 2000 m, respectively, are found. Whereas the thermal bending can be tuned by varying the depth of the `smart cut', it is found that the geometry has little effect on the residual slope errors. In both planes they are 0.1-0.25 µrad. In the sagittal direction, however, the effect on the beam is drastically reduced by the `foregiveness factor', sin(θ). Optimization without considering the reflected heat load yields an incorrect depth of the `smart cut'. The resulting meridional curvature in turn leads to parasitic focal lengths of the order of 100 m.

High-resolution macromolecular crystallography at the FemtoMAX beamline with time-over-threshold photon detection

Protein dynamics contribute to protein function on different time scales. Ultrafast X-ray diffraction snapshots can visualize the location and amplitude of atom displacements after perturbation. Since amplitudes of ultrafast motions are small, high-quality X-ray diffraction data is necessary for detection. Diffraction from bovine trypsin crystals using single femtosecond X-ray pulses was recorded at FemtoMAX, which is a versatile beamline of the MAX IV synchrotron. The time-over-threshold detection made it possible that single photons are distinguishable even under short-pulse low-repetition-rate conditions. The diffraction data quality from FemtoMAX beamline enables atomic resolution investigation of protein structures. This evaluation is based on the shape of the Wilson plot, cumulative intensity distribution compared with theoretical distribution, I/σ, Rmerge/Rmeas and CC1/2 statistics versus resolution. The FemtoMAX beamline provides an interesting alternative to X-ray free-electron lasers when studying reversible processes in protein crystals.

Full-field spectroscopic measurement of the X-ray beam from a multilayer monochromator using a hyperspectral X-ray camera

Multilayer monochromator devices are commonly used at (imaging) beamlines of synchrotron facilities to shape the X-ray beam to relatively small bandwidth and high intensity. However, stripe artefacts are often observed and can deteriorate the image quality. Although the intensity distribution of these artefacts has been described in the literature, their spectral distribution is currently unknown. To assess the spatio-spectral properties of the monochromated X-ray beam, the direct beam has been measured for the first time using a hyperspectral X-ray detector. The results show a large number of spectral features with different spatial distributions for a [Ru, B₄C] strip monochromator, associated primarily with the higher-order harmonics of the undulator and monochromator. It is found that their relative contributions are sufficiently low to avoid an influence on the imaging data. The [V, B₄C] strip suppresses these high-order harmonics even more than the former, yet at the cost of reduced efficiency.

The 7BM beamline at the APS: a facility for time-resolved fluid dynamics measurements

In recent years, X-ray radiography has been used to probe the internal structure of dense sprays with microsecond time resolution and a spatial resolution of 15 µm even in high-pressure environments. Recently, the 7BM beamline at the Advanced Photon Source (APS) has been commissioned to focus on the needs of X-ray spray radiography measurements. The spatial resolution and X-ray intensity at this beamline represent a significant improvement over previous time-resolved X-ray radiography measurements at the APS.