Research & Development World

  • Home Page
  • Topics
    • Aerospace
    • Archeology
    • Automotive
    • Biotech
    • Chemistry
    • COVID-19
    • Environment
    • Energy
    • Life Science
    • Material Science
    • R&D Market Pulse
    • R&D Management
    • Physics
  • Technology
    • 3D Printing
    • A.I./Robotics
    • Battery Technology
    • Controlled Environments
      • Cleanrooms
      • Graphene
      • Lasers
      • Regulations/Standards
      • Sensors
    • Imaging
    • Nanotechnology
    • Scientific Computing
      • Big Data
      • HPC/Supercomputing
      • Informatics
      • Security
      • Software
    • Semiconductors
  • 2021 R&D 100 Award Winners
    • R&D 100 Awards
    • 2020 Winners
    • Winner Archive
  • Resources
    • Digital Issues
    • Podcasts
    • Subscribe
  • Global Funding Forecast
  • Webinars

New X-ray camera could reveal big chemistry secrets

By R&D Editors | July 27, 2011

XrayCamera

To generate the extremely short and intense X-ray laser flashes, bunches of high-energy electrons are directed through special arrangements of magnets (undulators). Image: European XFEL

Designed
to record bursts of images at an unprecedented speed of 4.5 million
frames per second, an innovative X-ray camera being built with the expertise of the UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) will help a major new research
facility shed light on the structure of matter.

The device will be delivered to the billion-euro European XFEL
(X-ray Free-Electron Laser) next year and will contribute to drug
discovery and other vital research once this facility starts operating
in 2015.

The
go-ahead for continuation of the £3 million prototype collaboration
contract for the camera’s construction has been confirmed following a
visit to STFC by a delegation from the European XFEL’s Detector Advisory
Committee.

Now
under construction near Hamburg in Northern Germany, the European XFEL
is a 2-mile-long facility that will use superconducting accelerator
technology to accelerate electrons which then generate X-ray flashes a
billion times brighter than those produced by conventional X-ray
sources. Each flash will last less than one hundred million billionth of
a second. With the properties of laser light, these short, intense
flashes will, for example, make it possible to take 3D
X-ray images of single molecules.

Current X-ray cameras are designed to capture images when matter
is bombarded by a constant beam of X-rays. But the extreme brevity and
intensity of the flashes produced by the European XFEL means such
cameras will not be suitable for use at the new facility.

STFC’s
new device, which is being built in collaboration with University of
Glasgow, is specifically designed to work in conjunction with
hyper-short, hyper-brilliant X-ray flashes. It will be installed in one
of the first experimental endstations incorporated in the European XFEL.

The
device will help ensure that the European XFEL provides a unique
opportunity for science and industry to understand matter and its
behaviour, mapping the atomic details of viruses, for instance, or
pinpointing the molecular composition of individual cells.

“We’re
delighted that the European XFEL has turned to STFC to build this
pioneering camera. It demonstrates how the UK can provide the high-tech
excellence that world markets need, leading to scientific advances that
make a real difference to people’s lives,” says Dr. Tim Nicholls of
STFC.

“The European XFEL will represent a major step forward
in equipping Europe with a new generation of research infrastructure
that can meet the requirements of the 21st century. STFC’s unique skills
are creating an imaging device which will help this remarkable facility
realise its vast potential,” says Dr.
Markus Kuster, group leader of European XFEL GmbH’s detector development.

About STFC

About European XFEL

SOURCE

Related Articles Read More >

R&D winner of the day: Monolithic Fiber Array Launcher
R&D collaborations looking to build expertise, in this week’s R&D power index
Invention addresses the problems of running a red light at traffic intersections
Liberty Defense airport shoe screening technology earns prestigious national award
2021 R&D Global Funding Forecast

Need R&D World news in a minute?

We Deliver!
R&D World Enewsletters get you caught up on all the mission critical news you need in research and development. Sign up today.
Enews Signup

R&D World Digital Issues

February 2020 issue

Browse the most current issue of R&D World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading R& magazine today.

Research & Development World
  • Subscribe to R&D World Magazine
  • Enews Sign Up
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Drug Discovery & Development
  • Pharmaceutical Processing
  • 2021 Global Funding Forecast

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search R&D World

  • Home Page
  • Topics
    • Aerospace
    • Archeology
    • Automotive
    • Biotech
    • Chemistry
    • COVID-19
    • Environment
    • Energy
    • Life Science
    • Material Science
    • R&D Market Pulse
    • R&D Management
    • Physics
  • Technology
    • 3D Printing
    • A.I./Robotics
    • Battery Technology
    • Controlled Environments
      • Cleanrooms
      • Graphene
      • Lasers
      • Regulations/Standards
      • Sensors
    • Imaging
    • Nanotechnology
    • Scientific Computing
      • Big Data
      • HPC/Supercomputing
      • Informatics
      • Security
      • Software
    • Semiconductors
  • 2021 R&D 100 Award Winners
    • R&D 100 Awards
    • 2020 Winners
    • Winner Archive
  • Resources
    • Digital Issues
    • Podcasts
    • Subscribe
  • Global Funding Forecast
  • Webinars