6. INSTRUMENTATION
FOR MATERIALS RESEARCH USING SYNCHROTRON RADIATION
The Department of Energy supports X-ray scattering and spectroscopy facilities at synchrotron radiation sources where users conduct state-of-the-art materials research. Their experiments are enabled by the convergence of a range of instrumentation technologies. This topic seeks to develop advanced instrumentation that will enhance materials research employing synchrotron radiation. Grant applications should define the instrumentation need and outline the research that will enable innovation beyond the current state of the art. Applicants are strongly encouraged to demonstrate applicability and proper context through collaboration with a successful user of synchrotron radiation sources. To this end, the STTR program would be an appropriate vehicle for proposal submission. Alternatively, applicants are encouraged to demonstrate applicability by providing a letter of support from a successful user. Priority will be given to those grant applications that include such collaborations or letters of support.
A successful user is defined as someone at a research institution who has recently performed synchrotron experiments and published results in peer reviewed archival journals. Such researchers are the early adopters of new instrumentation and are often involved in conceptualizing, fabricating, and testing new devices. A starting point for developing collaborations would be to examine the annual activity reports from synchrotron radiation facilities with links at: http://www.lightsources.org/cms/?pid=1000444
Grant applications are sought only in the following
subtopics.
a. Beam Line Optics— Experiments employing synchrotron radiation are often limited by the beam quality delivered to the research sample. Beam quality requirements depend on specific experiments but usually involve improvements in delivered x-ray flux, brightness, coherence, or focus size. Grant applications are sought to develop advanced instrumentation for focusing, diffracting, or defining the X-ray source that eventually illuminates the research sample. Areas of interest include advancements in mirrors, monochromator crystals, zone plates, etc., in such a manner that improves the beam quality available for materials research. Grant applications should demonstrate an understanding of the state of the art and detail what new types of materials experiments will be enabled by proposed improvements if successfully realized. Grant applications must demonstrate that proposed components and instruments will be able to handle the heating loads from intense x-ray beams, and meet the necessary stability requirements with respect to motion control and vibration isolation.
Questions – contact Lane Wilson at: (lane.wilson@science.doe.gov)
b. Control of Sample Environment—Experiments involving x-rays as a probe have the advantage of being able to penetrate a sample environment and retrieve information from samples that are maintained in realistic environmental conditions. However, the interaction of the x-rays with the environmental container and sample manipulation devices must be controlled to minimize absorption and background scattering. The position of the input and exit beam relative to each other and to the orientation of the sample often also must be carefully controlled. Grant applications are sought to develop technology for sample manipulation, in order to provide for the in situ control of environmental parameters. These parameters may include extreme temperatures and pressures, and chemical exposure. Sample manipulation systems of interest should include containers, motion stages, and windows, all compatible with the necessary data collection techniques of an envisioned materials research experiment.
Questions – contact Lane Wilson at: (lane.wilson@science.doe.gov)
c. Detectors—Scattering and spectroscopic data collection involves x-ray detectors that have advanced spatial, energy, and/or time resolution capabilities. The ability to complete a materials research experiment in a reasonable amount of time is often limited by the x-ray detection capability as much as by the quality of the x-ray source. Rapid coverage of the experimental phase space is desired, and multi-element detectors and detector arrays are often employed towards this end. As a result of improvements in x-ray fluxes, detectors often must be able to handle high count rates and large dynamic ranges. Grant applications are sought to advance the state of the art for x-ray detectors. Improvement in the quality and affordability of such detectors is an example of an appropriate area for proposed research. Because detector needs are defined by the needs of a materials experiment, grant applications must detail what new types of materials experiments will be enabled by the proposed improvement, if successfully realized. Although improvements may be incremental, such improvements often generate new opportunities, as rate limiting features move from one item of a beam line system to another.
Questions – contact Lane Wilson at: (lane.wilson@science.doe.gov)
References
1. http://www-als.lbl.gov/als/actrep/
2. http://www.aps.anl.gov/Science/Reports/
3. http://www.nsls.bnl.gov/newsroom/publications/activityreport/
4. http://www-ssrl.slac.stanford.edu/science/sciencehighlights.html
5. AIP Conference Proceedings Volume 879
SYNCHROTRON
RADIATION INSTRUMENTATION: Ninth International Conference on Synchrotron
Radiation Instrumentation Daegu (
ISBN: 978-0-7354-0373-4
http:scitation.aip.org/proceedings/confproceed/879.jsp