MRI: Development of an Ultra-High Resolution Small Angle X-Ray Scattering Instrument for Characterizing Supramolecular Assemblies

技术摘要该开发项目旨在推进超高分辨率小角X射线散射（SAXS）仪器和X射线光学的设计技术，在纳米结构表征中具有广泛的应用。 一个新的光学设计概念，可以显着提高（高达10倍）的分辨率和信噪比在SAXS测量将被开发。 这种上级性能来自于一种复合光学结构，该结构包括一个主单色镜和一个预采样的次聚焦镜，以提高分辨率和峰值强度。 这种独特的设计有望取代目前SAXS仪器中流行的三针孔配置。感兴趣的科学和工程问题涵盖了一系列多学科领域，包括软凝聚态物质，生物物理和生物工程，神经科学和生物无机化学。 该仪器将在材料研究实验室的X射线设施外运行，拥有来自校园，其他机构和当地工业的250多名研究人员的既定用户群。这一发展将通过推进用于纳米科学和纳米技术不同研究领域的SAXS仪器的光学设计和性能，对国家学术研究基础设施产生广泛影响。该项目的研究人员将继续参与UCSB提供的众多外展计划，以改善不同群体获得科学的机会，包括本科生和研究生培训，K-12学生和教师的外展以及社区外展。 增强纳米材料的结构表征对纳米科学、纳米技术和生物技术的新兴领域至关重要。 我们将开发一种基于实验室的微束X射线散射仪，用于发现1纳米至1000纳米尺度的新型新材料的结构。这种新仪器的性能将超过最好的商用X射线仪器，并将为纳米科学和技术的校园基础设施提供显着的增强。这种尖端X射线表征工具的开发将使UCSB成为X射线表征领域最强大的机构之一，这不仅将吸引来自多个校园团体的用户，还将吸引来自其他研究机构的用户。该项目为研究生和博士后研究人员提供了一个极好的培训机会，他们不仅将参与构建尖端的X射线工具，而且还能够将其用于一系列研究项目，这些项目将利用该仪器提供的新功能。X射线开发计划将与主要研究人员正在进行的推广活动相结合，指导本科生和当地高中教师参加UCSB大量正在进行的暑期实习计划。

Technical AbstractThe development project is aimed at advancing the design technology for ultra-high-resolution small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) instrumentation and x-ray optics with broad applications in nanoscale structure characterization. A new optical design concept that can significantly enhance (up to 10-fold) the resolution and signal-to-noise ratio in SAXS measurements will be developed. The superior performance results from a compound optical configuration incorporating both a primary monochromator mirror and a pre-sample secondary focusing mirror to increase resolution and peak intensity. This unique design is expected to supplant the prevalent three-pinhole configuration in current SAXS instruments. The scientific and engineering problems of interest cover a range of multidisciplinary fields including soft condensed matter, biological physics and bioengineering, neuroscience, and bioinorganic chemistry. The instrument will operate out of the x-ray facility of the Materials Research Laboratory, with an established user base of more than 250 researchers from campus, other institutions and local industry. The development should broadly impact the national academic research infrastructure by advancing the optical design and performance of SAXS instrumentation used in diverse research areas in nanoscience and nanotechnology. The investigators of this project will continue their involvement in their numerous outreach programs available at UCSB to improve access to science for diverse groups, including undergraduate and graduate student training, outreach to K-12 students and teachers, and community outreach. Lay AbstractEnhancing structure characterization of nanomaterials is critical to the emerging areas of nanoscience, nanotechnology, and biotechnology. We will develop a laboratory-based microbeam x-ray scattering instrument for discovering the structures of novel new materials on the 1 nanometer to 1000 nanometer scale. The performance of this new instrument will exceed the best commercially available x-ray instrument and will provide a significant enhancement to the campus infrastructure in nanoscience and technology. The development of this cutting edge x-ray characterization tool will establish UCSB as one of strongest institutions in the x-ray characterization area, which will attract users not only from multiple campus groups but also from other research institutions as well. The project provides an excellent training opportunity to graduate students and postdoctoral researchers who will not only participate in building the cutting-edge x-ray tool but also be able to utilize it in a series of research projects which will take advantage of the new capability afforded by the instrument. The x-ray development program will be integrated with the ongoing outreach activities of the principle investigators in mentoring undergraduate students and local high school teachers participating in the large number of ongoing summer internship programs at UCSB.