Serial microcrystallography has been developed to pass submicron protein crystals through the x-ray beam during which only a single diffraction image is captured before the specimen is destroyed. In almost all cases the angular orientation of the crystal is not known, so the series of diffraction images cannot be analyzed using existing software approaches.

The origins of the trace elements observed by SXRF in inscribed regions are unclear, but are speculated being derived from the tools and paints used in the original inscriptions. Although SXRF is effective for naturally worn surfaces, the measurement has also been complicated by object surface curvature or relief, such as incised letters.

“Who wants to see if they are a Zombie?” asks Professor Carl Franck, causing all twelve Girl Scouts in the room to look up from their work and stare in bewilderment.  “Let’s go outside and see if you are really alive by using a TV satellite dish to measure your body heat!”  Still doubtful, a handful of girls get out of their seats and walk excitedly towards the door, following Professor Franck outside.

Such organic perovskites can be prepared from a solution of readily available lead salts and organic cations (e.g., CH₃NH₃I) and yield the desired high-performance material under a gentle thermal anneal at 100°C. The process seems to be also relatively insensitive to impurities, as opposed to the ultra-high purity demands and high process temperatures of amorphous silicon, the most commonly used material for solar cells currently.

The rank of fellow is bestowed on members who "have been responsible for significant engineering achievements" and have been active members for at least ten years. Professor Miller’s work developing new X-ray techniques, primarily at CHESS, and his development of the In-Sitµ center were mentioned prominently in his award citation, highlighting their importance to the mechanical engineering community. "Professor Matthew P. Miller is an international leader in the development and engineering application of high energy x-rays to probe the micro-structure of materials under live loads. Prof.

CHESS summer student Arthur Campello tackled the task of designing a sample changing robot for CHESS D1 station, under the guidance of CHESS Staff Scientist Detlef Smilgies. The basic ingredients of the robot were a rotation stage as a sample carousel and a slim translation stage for the sample transfer. A suction device lightly picks up the sample in one of the 20 slots on the sample carousel. Then the translation stage transports the sample to the sample holder. Campello designed the basic structural components based on beamline dimensions and the available stages.

Through this program, high school teachers can borrow laboratory equipment to use in their science classes free of charge, for up to a week: “The goal of this initiative is to give high school teachers access to technology similar to that used in the CHESS research facility," states Lora Hine, director of Education and Outreach at CLASSE.

Their potential application is, however, currently limited as HOIPs shows structural instability under high temperature, humidity, or even extended light exposure. Understanding of the perovskite structural stability and phase transitions is deemed both timely and essential.

This is especially important when illuminating very small samples, as in protein microcrystallography where crystals can be on the order of a micron across and diffract weakly compared to larger crystals. Any excess scatter in these conditions will contribute unwanted noise and decrease the overall signal-to-noise ratio – an important measure of data quality. Consider an experiment where you first must take the water from a firehose and somehow get a water thread thinner than a human hair without any mist! That is akin to the scale of creating x-ray microbeam at CHESS.