A vacuum-compatible wet-specimen chamber for compact X-ray microscopy
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Published on: August 5, 2021
H Stollberg1, M Pokorny, H M Hertz
1Biomedical and X-Ray Physics, Department of Applied Physics, KTH-AlbaNova, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden. heide.stollberg@epsilon.nu
Abstract:
Soft X-ray microscopy is a powerful tool for investigations of, for example, polymers or soils in their natural liquid environment. This requires a wet-specimen chamber. Compact X-ray microscopy allows the horizontal mounting of such samples, thereby reducing the influence of gravitational forces. We have developed a wet-specimen chamber for such compact X-ray microscope. The chamber is vacuum compatible, which reduces the exposure time. The vacuum sealing is achieved by a combination of mechanical sealing and sealing by bio-compatible glue. With the wet-specimen chamber the specimens can be kept in an aqueous environment in a vacuum of 10(-4) mbar for several hours. Imaging of lipid droplets in water demonstrates the function of the wet-specimen chamber.
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