X-ray absorption fine structure measurements are a prime tool at synchrotrons around the world, accounting for over 30% of all synchrotron research. They are incisive tools for elucidating local structure, ionization state and coordination geometry. However, in general, it has not been possible to apply them to perfect or near-perfect crystals, and their dominant application is to micro-samples...

We examine the UV and X-ray properties of 256 radio-quiet SDSS quasars (QSOs) observed in X-rays with Chandra and/or XMM-Newton in order to study the relationship between QSOs with broad C IV absorption lines (BALs; width > 2000 km s) and those with C IV mini-BALs (here defined to have widths of 1000–2000 km s). Our sample includes 42 BAL and 48 mini-BAL QSOs. The relative X-ray brightness and ...

We present a robust data analysis method of time-resolved x-ray absorption spectroscopy experiments suitable for chemical speciation and structure determination of reaction intermediates. Chemical speciation is done by principal component analysis (PCA) of the time-resolved x-ray absorption near-edge structure data. Structural analysis of intermediate phases is done by theoretical modeling of t...

We present Chandra observations of the radio-quiet Broad Absorption Line (BAL) QSO PG 1254+047. We find that it is a weak X-ray source, with a total of 44 ± 7 photons measured in 36 ksec across the observed energy range 0.7 − 6.0 keV. Its X-ray weakness is consistent with the known correlation between αox and the strength of the UV absorption lines. The spectral energy distribution suggests tha...

With Cd and Zn metal ions removed from the native rabbit-liver metallothionein upon unfolding, Cu-modified metallothioneins (Cu-MTs) were obtained during refolding in solutions containing Cu(I) or Cu(II) ions. X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopic results confirm the respectively assigned oxidation states of the copper ions in Cu(I)-MT and Cu(II)-MT. Global and local structures of the Cu-MTs...

This paper reviews the research in nanomaterials conducted in our laboratory in the last decade using conventional and synchrotron radiation techniques. While preparative and conventional characterisation techniques are described, emphasis is placed on the analysis of nanomaterials using synchrotron radiation. Materials of primary interests are metal nanoparticles and semiconductor nanowires an...

X-ray fluorescence tomography is based on the detection of fluorescence x-ray photons produced following x-ray absorption while a specimen is rotated; it provides information on the 3D distribution of selected elements within a sample. One limitation in the quality of sample recovery is the separation of elemental signals due to the finite energy resolution of the detector. Another limitation i...

We present Chandra observations of the radio-quiet Broad Absorption Line (BAL) QSO PG 1254+047. We find that it is a weak X-ray source, with a total of 44 ± 7 photons measured in 36 ksec across the observed energy range 0.7 − 6.0 keV. Its X-ray weakness is consistent with the known correlation between αox and the strength of the UV absorption lines. The spectral energy distribution suggests tha...

A bent-crystal spectrometer based on the Rowland circle geometry has been installed and tested on the BM30b/FAME beamline at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility to improve its performances. The energy resolution of the spectrometer allows different kinds of measurements to be performed, including X-ray absorption spectroscopy, resonant inelastic X-ray scattering and X-ray Raman scatteri...

Here we present a review of x-ray absorption spectroscopy and x-ray Raman scattering with the perspective to understand the spectra of water including changes with temperature, mass of the water molecule and presence of monovalent ions. The different detection schemes are discussed and it is concluded that transmission x-ray absorption measurements, using a small area where the thickness is uni...