Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026
07:26
Improving High Viscosity Extrusion of Microcrystals for Time-resolved Serial Femtosecond Crystallography at X-ray Lasers
Published on: February 28, 2019
New Opportunities in Synchrotron X-ray Crystallography
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|October 16, 1987
Summary
High-intensity synchrotron x-ray sources enable advanced crystallography. These powerful tools facilitate new experiments on small crystals, large molecules, and magnetic scattering, driving forefront research.
Area of Science:
- Crystallography
- Materials Science
- Physics
Background:
- Several high-intensity synchrotron x-ray sources are now operational globally.
- These facilities offer unique radiation characteristics: broad wavelengths, high intensity, low divergence, polarization, and pulsed structure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the impact of synchrotron radiation on crystallographic research.
- To showcase novel applications and advancements in diffraction studies.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing synchrotron x-ray sources for diffraction experiments.
- Employing energy-dispersive and surface diffraction techniques.
- Conducting experiments on small crystals and large biological molecules.
Main Results:
- Rapid progress in energy-dispersive and surface diffraction studies.
- Enabling diffraction on very small crystals and large biomolecules.
- Detection of weak magnetic scattering and performance of anomalous dispersion experiments.
Conclusions:
- Synchrotron x-radiation is revolutionizing crystallographic research.
- New experimental capabilities are pushing the boundaries of scientific discovery.
- These advanced techniques will lead future crystallographic investigations.
Related Concept Videos
02:18X-ray Crystallography
The size of the unit cell and the arrangement of atoms in a crystal may be determined from measurements of the diffraction of X-rays by the crystal, termed X-ray crystallography.
Diffraction
Diffraction is the change in the direction of travel experienced by an electromagnetic wave when it encounters a physical barrier whose dimensions are comparable to those of the wavelength of the light. X-rays are electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths about as long as the distance between neighboring...
Diffraction
Diffraction is the change in the direction of travel experienced by an electromagnetic wave when it encounters a physical barrier whose dimensions are comparable to those of the wavelength of the light. X-rays are electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths about as long as the distance between neighboring...
01:29Determination of Crystal Structures
In the late 1800s, the revelation that light extended beyond visible wavelengths led to the discovery of X-rays by Wilhelm Roentgen. Recognized as high-energy electromagnetic radiation with short wavelengths, X-rays prompted exploration into their interaction with crystals. Max von Laue proposed in 1912 that the periodic arrangement of atoms, ions, or molecules in crystals would cause them to diffract X-rays, a hypothesis confirmed through experiments with copper sulfate and zinc sulfide...
01:10X-ray Diffraction of Biological Samples
X-ray diffraction or XRD is an analytical tool that utilizes X-rays to study ordered structures such as crystalline organic and inorganic samples, polycrystalline materials, proteins, carbohydrates, and drugs.
According to Bragg's law, when X-rays strike the sample positioned on a stage, the rays are scattered by the electron clouds around the sample atoms. The X-ray diffraction or scattering is caused by constructive interference of the X-ray waves that reflect off the internal crystal...
According to Bragg's law, when X-rays strike the sample positioned on a stage, the rays are scattered by the electron clouds around the sample atoms. The X-ray diffraction or scattering is caused by constructive interference of the X-ray waves that reflect off the internal crystal...