Abstract
From the very first issue of Synchrotron Radiation News in 1988, our community has been deeply interested in imaging and its impact on synchrotron radiation research. That interest has been rewarded with a dynamic field whose evolution over the past several decades has been dramatic. Consider the impact of new high-precision instruments, the development of innovative imaging techniques, and the enhancement of light sources’ brightness on X-ray imaging and microscopy.
In this issue of Synchrotron Radiation News, we review some of the latest developments in this exciting field. Our first contribution is from ALBA, and details recent scientific results involving imaging in real space. At ALBA, X-ray tomography is being used to investigate a new cancer treatment centered on iridium derivatives. The process involves a cryo 3D X-ray correlative microscopy approach that combines cell ultrastructure determination at nanometric resolution and cellular elemental distribution in close-to-native conditions. The article also discusses research at ALBA involving vector magnetic tomography of thin films, infrared imaging of skin, and a fascinating use of XMCD-PEEM to reveal high-quality magnetite micro-crystals.
Our next article focuses on coherent diffractive imaging at the high-energy PETRA III synchrotron storage ring. This article explores one of the more recent approaches to imaging using the coherence properties of incoming X-ray photon beams, a technique known as coherent X-ray diffraction imaging. The examples presented demonstrate the potential of coherent diffraction imaging to investigate the structure of meso- and nanoscopic samples. This approach to imaging may lead to visualization of nanocrystals with atomic resolution at 4th-generation synchrotron sources.
Next, we consider hard X-ray imaging at ESRF, discussing ongoing strategies to exploit contrast and coherence with the new Extremely Brilliant Source (EBS) storage ring. It is worth noting that out of the eight EBS-related new beamline projects, more than half consider or include X-ray imaging techniques. This review underlines the importance of synchrotron-based hard X-ray imaging via selected examples from ESRF beamlines that will strongly benefit from the new EBS. In one example, in-vivo imaging is focused on applying high-resolution computed tomography to small animal models of lung pathology, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a life-threatening acute respiratory failure of multiple causes, including viral lung infections such as influenza and coronavirus, specifically COVID-19.
Our focus on imaging concludes with an article from NSLS-II highlighting multimodal, multidimensional, and multiscale X-ray imaging and discussing how these methods are used to tackle a wide range of scientific challenges. The current scientific trend is to combine such measurements to better understand complex problems. This trend is driving the development of more sophisticated data management, visualization, and analysis tools.
There is additional scope for discussion in our news article sharing information about the international collaboration lightsources.org and a report from the Synchrotron Radiation for Materials Analysis Satellite Meeting. Finally, we invite you to enjoy the striking images chronicling the ESRF-EBS upgrade.
Content Director