Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 14, 2026

08:51
Non-invasive 3D-Visualization with Sub-micron Resolution Using Synchrotron-X-ray-tomography
Published on: May 27, 2008
13.2K
A miniature X-ray diffraction setup on ID20 at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility
Christoph J Sahle1, Marta Majkut1, Kari O Ruotsalainen1
1ESRF - The European Synchrotron, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38043 Grenoble Cedex 9, France.
Journal of Synchrotron Radiation
|October 25, 2024
Summary
Researchers developed a compact in situ X-ray diffraction setup for rapid sample analysis. This system enhances phase diagram exploration under extreme conditions like high pressure and temperature.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Crystallography
Background:
- In situ characterization is crucial for understanding materials under dynamic conditions.
- Exploring phase diagrams often requires efficient and rapid sample analysis.
- Existing setups may lack the compactness or adaptability for certain experimental needs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present an ultra-compact in situ X-ray diffraction setup.
- To facilitate on-the-fly sample characterization.
- To enable efficient navigation of material phase diagrams under extreme conditions.
Main Methods:
- Implementation of an ultra-compact setup at the inelastic X-ray scattering beamline ID20.
- Integration of X-ray diffraction capabilities for in situ analysis.
- Application of high-pressure and/or high-temperature environments.
Main Results:
- Demonstration of the setup's performance.
- Successful characterization of samples under dynamic conditions.
- Validation of the system's utility for phase diagram exploration.
Conclusions:
- The developed setup offers a valuable tool for in situ materials research.
- Its compact design and performance meet the demand for efficient sample characterization.
- The system facilitates the study of materials under high-pressure and high-temperature conditions.
Related Concept Videos
X-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...
X-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...
X-ray Imaging
German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen (1845–1923) was experimenting with electrical current when he discovered that a mysterious and invisible "ray" would pass through his flesh but leave an outline of his bones on a screen coated with a metal compound. In 1895, Röntgen made the first durable record of the internal parts of a living human: an "X-ray" image (as it came to be called) of his wife’s hand. Scientists worldwide quickly began their own experiments with X-rays, and by 1900, X-ray was widely...
Determination 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...

