X-Ray Optics
School of Physics -> Optics Groups -> X-Ray Optics Group -> Research -> Synchrotron Development

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Synchrotron Beamline Developments and XAFS

We have developed diagnostics to determine accurate energies, fluxes and detection in bending magnet and insertion device beamlines around the world. We have also developed diagnostics to determine band-wdth and harmonic contamination to extremely high accuracy. This has developed the X-ray Extended Range Technique (XERT) which has in turn achieved the highest accuracy absorption and form factor measurements (0.02% accuracy), the highest accuracy determination (correction) of the powder diffraction lattice standard of Lanthanum Hexaboride, the first determination of the contribution of scattering in an absorption experiment, and the highest accuracy determination of XAFS (on a relative or absolute basis). We use these in various applications of direct interest, including the investigation of relativistic quantum mechanics, the wavefunctions of the electrons in the atom (or solid) and solid state structural determination by XAFS, XANES and other techniques.

X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS) is a complex structure seen in the absorption coefficient just above the absorption edge, where an incoming X-ray has enough energy to ionise an electron from a particular bound state. The oscillations seen are particularly due to an interference effect between the emitted photoelectron and its own reflected wave. This signature allows many investigations of local structural information for crystallographers, chemists, medical scientists and mining / engineering investigations.

Some third or more of Australian synchrotron research uses XAFS and the related technique called XANES to indentify band distances, chemical valence, nearest neighbour coordination, geometry and local structure.

Our novel experimental techniques allow XAFS determination with an accuracy increased by up to two orders of magnitude, which in turn challenges available theory and modelling. Our analytical work puts these discrepancies on a firm foundation, and our theoretical development holds promise to develop new tools and methods of insightful analysis.

Experiments at the Australian Synchrotron have implemented IDL on this beamline for the first time. We have a large LIEF grant with multiple institutions to develop investigations of extreme chemistry and geophysics and to exploit high-accuracy in these difficult regimes. We also have developed proposals for new beamlines at the Australian Synchrotron under development and are involved in several others.

Atomic plasma and laboratory astrophysics at a synchrotron

High Accuracy XAS in absorption and fluorescence and RIXS with energy calibration at the Australian Synchrotron

Joint proposal - Lay, Chantler, Ridgway for XAS development at the Australian Synchrotron


Diagnostics used to measure flux and energy in synchrotrons are in a state of development. This picture illustrates some concerns with previous calibration procedures and allowances made for beryllium windows and argon gas detectors.

This topic of investigation is wide-ranging and links to the development of specific analytical systems and spectrometers. It also links to diffraction / attenuation investigations and form factor studies.


 

Rubix Cube Related Links

Page Related Links:

  • Powder Diffraction
  • Theoretical Computation of Atomic Form Factors
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