Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026
10:04
Sample Drift Correction Following 4D Confocal Time-lapse Imaging
Published on: April 12, 2014
A real-time correction method for sample drift in STXM based on Fourier transform image registration
Yuchen Jiao1,2,3, Zijian Xu3,1,4, Tianxiao Sun4
1University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China.
Journal of Synchrotron Radiation
|July 28, 2026
Summary
This study introduces an online drift correction method for Scanning Transmission X-ray Microscopy (STXM) stack scans. The technique significantly reduces sample drift, improving experimental efficiency and data quality.
Area of Science:
- Synchrotron Radiation Science
- Nanoscale Imaging Techniques
- Materials Analysis
Background:
- Scanning Transmission X-ray Microscopy (STXM) utilizes Fresnel zone plates (FZPs) for high-resolution nanoscale imaging.
- STXM's stack scan mode enables nanoscale chemical analysis by energy scanning across X-ray absorption edges.
- Sample drift during STXM stack scans, caused by thermal drift and misalignment, increases scan area and time.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and implement an online drift correction method for STXM stack scans.
- To mitigate sample drift issues that degrade imaging quality and experimental efficiency.
- To enhance the reliability and speed of nanoscale chemical analysis using STXM.
Main Methods:
- A novel method combining Fourier transform image registration with laser interferometer position information was developed.
- This approach enables real-time correction of sample position during STXM stack scans.
- The method was tested on a 100-image stack scan experiment.
Main Results:
- The proposed method effectively reduced sample drift from over 1 µm to less than 120 nm.
- Continuous sample drift during stack scanning was significantly eliminated.
- Redundant scan areas were greatly reduced, leading to improved experimental efficiency.
Conclusions:
- The developed online drift correction method is highly effective in eliminating sample drift in STXM stack scans.
- This technique substantially enhances experimental efficiency and data reliability for nanoscale chemical analysis.
- The method offers a significant advancement for synchrotron radiation-based nanoscale imaging and analysis.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Linear Approximation in Frequency Domain
Linear systems are characterized by two main properties: superposition and homogeneity. Superposition allows the response to multiple inputs to be the sum of the responses to each individual input. Homogeneity ensures that scaling an input by a scalar results in the response being scaled by the same scalar.
In contrast, nonlinear systems do not inherently possess these properties. However, for small deviations around an operating point, a nonlinear system can often be approximated as linear.
In contrast, nonlinear systems do not inherently possess these properties. However, for small deviations around an operating point, a nonlinear system can often be approximated as linear.
01:21Linear Approximation in Time Domain
Nonlinear systems often require sophisticated approaches for accurate modeling and analysis, with state-space representation being particularly effective. This method is especially useful for systems where variables and parameters vary with time or operating conditions, such as in a simple pendulum or a translational mechanical system with nonlinear springs.
For a simple pendulum with a mass evenly distributed along its length and the center of mass located at half the pendulum's length, the...
For a simple pendulum with a mass evenly distributed along its length and the center of mass located at half the pendulum's length, the...
01:15Distance Corrections
To achieve precise distance measurements, especially in surveying and construction, certain corrections must be applied to account for potential sources of error like the standardization errors, temperature variations, and slope adjustments.Standardization error emerges when measurement equipment undergoes changes, such as wear, repairs, or weather impacts. To address this, surveyors compare the equipment’s readings to a standard. This process identifies any deviation that might lead to...
01:14NMR Spectrometers: Resolution and Error Correction
When magnetic nuclei in a sample achieve resonance and undergo relaxation, the signal detected in NMR is an approximately exponential free induction decay. Fourier transform of an exponential decay yields a Lorentzian peak in the frequency domain. Lorentzian peaks in an NMR spectrum are defined by their amplitude, full width at half maximum, and position, where the peak width is governed by the spin-spin relaxation time alone. In real experiments, however, the applied magnetic field is rendered...
01:11Continuous -time Fourier Transform
The Fourier series is instrumental in representing periodic functions, offering a powerful method to decompose such functions into a sum of sinusoids. This technique, however, necessitates modification when applied to nonperiodic functions. Consider a pulse-train waveform consisting of a series of rectangular pulses. When these pulses have a finite period, they can be accurately represented by a Fourier series. Yet, as the period approaches infinity, resulting in a single, isolated pulse, the...