Open AccessX‐ray Applications with Glass‐Capillary Optics
Author(s) -
Bilderback D. H.,
Thiel D. J.,
Pahl R.,
Brister K. E.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of synchrotron radiation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.172
H-Index - 99
ISSN - 1600-5775
DOI - 10.1107/s0909049594007259
Subject(s) - optics , synchrotron , capillary action , x ray optics , materials science , diamond , x ray , diffraction , micrometer , absorption (acoustics) , detector , physics , composite material
Glass capillaries have unique properties for guiding X‐rays in experiments with micrometer precision. Design considerations of such optics are presented for X‐ray applications involving macromolecular crystallography, tomography and high‐pressure experiments at the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source. The authors propose that crystallography with protein crystals is feasible on a 50 μm or smaller scale using capillary optics along with a cold gas stream and precision rotation stages. For computed tomography experiments, capillary optics can produce X‐ray beams on a submicrometer scale. The distribution of X‐rays passing through the sample can then be blown up in size with a secondary capillary optic to match the ~10 μm pixel size of CCD detectors. For high‐pressure experiments in diamond‐anvil cells, mono‐ and polycapillary optics may provide 1–50 μm diameter beams for diffraction or X‐ray absorption fine‐structure applications.