Abstract

This paper describes a new large-range rapid-scan X-ray fluorescence (XRF) imaging station at beamline 6-2 at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. This station uses a continuous rapid-scan system with a scan range of 1000 × 600 mm and a load capacity of up to 25 kg, capable of 25-100 µm resolution elemental XRF mapping and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) of a wide range of objects. XRF is measured using a four-element Hitachi Vortex ME4 silicon drift detector coupled to a Quantum Detectors Xspress3 multi-channel analyzer system. A custom system allows the X-ray spot size to be changed quickly and easily via pinholes ranging from 25 to 100 µm, and the use of a poly-capillary or axially symmetric achromatic optic may achieve a <10 µm resolution in the future. The instrument is located at wiggler beamline 6-2 which has an energy range of 2.1-17 keV, creating K emission for elements up to strontium, and L or M emission for all other elements. XAS can also be performed at selected sample positions within the same experiment, allowing for a more detailed chemical characterization of the elements of interest. Furthermore, sparse excitation energy XRF imaging can be performed over a wide range of incident X-ray energies. User friendliness has been emphasized in all stages of the experiment, including versatile sample mounts, He purged chambers for low-Z analyses, and intuitive visualization hardware and software. The station provides analysis capabilities for a wide range of materials and research fields including biological, chemical, environmental and materials science, paleontology, geology and cultural heritage.

Highlights

  • Synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence (XRF) imaging is a powerful analytical tool that has been applied in a wide range of scientific fields including life sciences (e.g. Suortti & Thomlinson, 2003; Korbas et al, 2008; Popescu et al, 2009; Punshon et al, 2009), archaeology and cultural heritage (e.g. Dooryhee et al, 2004; Sandstrom et al, 2005; Bergmann, 2007, 2012; Bertrand et al, 2012; Janssens et al, 2013; Zielinska et al, 2013), environmental and earth sciences, and paleontology (e.g. Brown & Sturchio, 2002; Templeton & Knowles, 2009; Bergmann et al, 2010; Edwards et al, 2014; Johnson et al, 2016; Gueriau et al, 2018)

  • The benefits are of particular importance for XRF imaging and include higher spatial resolution, scanning speed, greater sensitivity to trace elements and improved signal to noise ratio

  • A large-range XRF imaging instrument, which was originally designed for rapid-scan XRF imaging of the Archimedes Palimpsest (Bergmann, 2007), has been operational at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL, CA, USA) beamline 6-2

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Summary

Introduction

Synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence (XRF) imaging is a powerful analytical tool that has been applied in a wide range of scientific fields including life sciences (e.g. Suortti & Thomlinson, 2003; Korbas et al, 2008; Popescu et al, 2009; Punshon et al, 2009), archaeology and cultural heritage (e.g. Dooryhee et al, 2004; Sandstrom et al, 2005; Bergmann, 2007, 2012; Bertrand et al, 2012; Janssens et al, 2013; Zielinska et al, 2013), environmental and earth sciences, and paleontology (e.g. Brown & Sturchio, 2002; Templeton & Knowles, 2009; Bergmann et al, 2010; Edwards et al, 2014; Johnson et al, 2016; Gueriau et al, 2018). A large-range XRF imaging instrument, which was originally designed for rapid-scan XRF imaging of the Archimedes Palimpsest (Bergmann, 2007), has been operational at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL, CA, USA) beamline 6-2. Over the years this instrument has been extensively applied in the field of archaeology, medical imaging, geology and paleontology The technical details and examples demonstrating the performance of this operational end-station are presented below

Technical description
Beam spot size
Sample environment
Examples
Findings
Funding information

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