The Diamond Manchester Imaging Branchline (I13-2)

The I13-2 Imaging Beamline performs micro- and nano-imaging/tomography in the energy range of 8-30keV. The sample size ranges from 50 microns to more than 10mm. Tomographic scans take typically several minutes. Most recently an automated sample changer (robot arm) has been installed for fully automated and remote scanning.

The beamline operates in two imaging modes:

• Micro-imaging – sample size of 0.1-10 mm  and spatial resolution of about a micron.
• Nano-imaging – sample size of 10-50µm  with 50-100nm spatial resolution.

Micro Imaging: In-line phase contrast imaging/tomography

In-line phase contrast imaging is the standard method, in particular very useful for imaging samples with weak absorption contrast, such as insects. The partially coherent radiation of the synchrotron source enhances the contrast at the edges of structures. Phase contrast imaging can be utilised with both pink and monochromatic light.

Nano-Imaging: Full-field microscope (X-ray Transmission Microscope: TXM)

The full-field microscope (TXM) operates on the same optical principles as a microscope for visible light. The optics used are Fresnel-Zone plates (FZP), achieving about 50nm spatial resolution over a field of view of about 100 microns. The Zernike-phase contrast imaging method provides enhanced contrast, essential when studying biological samples.

The energy bandwidth of the radiation may vary depending on the application. In general for rapid data acquisition the broadband-filtered ‘pink-beam’ is used, the beam can be monochromatized either with a multilayer- or a double-crystal monochromator. The later is useful for spectroscopic imaging. It helps identifying elements and determining the chemical form (oxidation state) of elements.

The beamline supports a variety of sample environments, applicable to a large diversity of scientific applications, including bio-medicine, batteries, materials science, insects, paleontology , to name some areas. The sample environments include battery charging/discharging cells, compression rigs, flow cells and heating environments.