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

该项目旨在推进在纳米结构表征中具有广泛应用的超高分辨率小角X射线散射(SAXS)仪器和X射线光学的设计技术。将开发一种新的光学设计概念，可以显著提高SAXS测量的分辨率和信噪比(最高可提高10倍)。卓越的性能源于一种复合光学配置，该配置结合了一次单色镜和样品前二次聚焦镜，以提高分辨率和峰值强度。这一独特的设计有望取代目前SAXS仪器中流行的三针孔结构。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射线设施中运行，拥有来自校园、其他机构和当地行业的250多名研究人员的既定用户基础。这一发展将通过促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，从而广泛影响国家学术研究基础设施。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、面向K-12学生和教师的外展以及社区外展。加强纳米材料的结构表征对新兴的纳米科学、纳米技术和生物技术领域至关重要。我们将开发一种实验室微束X射线散射仪，以发现1纳米至1000纳米尺度的新材料的结构。这一新仪器的性能将超过商业上最好的X射线仪器，并将大大加强校园的纳米科学和技术基础设施。这一尖端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，它不仅将吸引来自多个校园团体的用户，而且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，他们不仅将参与建造尖端X射线工具，而且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能力。X射线发展计划将与主要调查人员正在进行的外展活动相结合，以指导参加UCSB正在进行的大量暑期实习计划的本科生和当地高中教师。

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.