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Updated: Jul 15, 2025

Fully Autonomous Characterization and Data Collection from Crystals of Biological Macromolecules
Published on: March 22, 2019
Remote and automated high-throughput powder diffraction measurements enabled by a robotic sample changer at SSRL
Kevin H Stone1, Monty R Cosby1, Nicholas A Strange1
1Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA.
Abstract:
The general-purpose powder diffractometer beamline (BL2-1) at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL) is described. The evolution of design and performance of BL2-1 are presented, in addition to current operating specifications, applications and measurement capabilities. Recent developments involve a robotic sample changer enabling high-throughput X-ray diffraction measurements, applicable to mail-in and remote operations. In situ and operando capabilities to measure samples with different form factors (e.g. capillary, flat plate or thin film, and transmission) and under variable experimental conditions are discussed. Several example datasets and accompanying Rietveld refinements are presented.

