MRI: Acquisition of an X-Ray Diffractometer for Multi-Disciplinary Research and Research Training at California State University, Bakersfield

X射线衍射是一种基本的分析技术，用于晶体物质的表征和鉴定，在多个学科中有许多应用。该技术背后的原理相对简单，培训简单，仪器几乎不需要维护。因此，X射线衍射实验室是加州州立大学（一所小型区域性州立大学）正在进行和未来的多学科研究和教育活动的理想多功能设施。 由该奖项资助的X射线衍射仪器将由地质科学学院领导的团队使用，该团队在建立，维护和维护Coco的精密仪器实验室方面具有丰富的经验，并且在外部资助的研究方面有着良好的记录。 他们将加入一个多学科小组的初级教师与强大的，以学生为中心的研究计划，并致力于学生的研究和培训。该工具将支持现有的，并使新的研究方向和教师之间的合作，并促进与其他机构的研究人员的合作。这一新工具将为一个少数民族服务机构的学生提供研究培训，该机构所在区域的科学和工程专业人数不足的群体人口众多且增长迅速。它也将是在剑桥和邻近的合作机构，如贝克斯菲尔德学院和塔夫脱学院教学的一个组成部分。该工具还将加强对高中和科学教师培训计划的推广工作，这些计划部分由NSF单独资助。具体而言，该奖项为收购新的PANalytical Inc.提供资金。* X射线衍射仪（XRD），以取代1991年购置的过时仪器。所选仪器具有非常多的功能，使其成为不同领域应用的理想选择。拟议的工具将允许继续和及时完成现有的多学科研究项目，在几个自然科学学科，以及在工程学和人类学。地质科学的研究人员将使用仪器来表征加州圣华金河谷碳捕获和封存的地质构造，阐明加州卡里佐平原古湖泊沉积物的古气候记录，检查环境相关矿物的热力学性质，表征内华达州拉斯维加斯附近沙漠土壤产生的灰尘的矿物学成分，确定和量化河流和湖泊环境中砂岩成岩作用中涉及的粘土和沸石矿物，提供结晶度和基质晶体形态的基线测量，作为焊接凝灰岩的地质温度计，并建立内华达州山脉岩基内岩基断层的应变和千枚岩蚀变梯度。 与地质科学以外的研究人员的合作将确定支持山谷热病原体生长的土壤的物理参数（生物学），检查软物质的结构，如纤维素及其与物理性质的关系（工程学），以及考古材料的来源（人类学）。

X-ray diffraction is a fundamental analytical technique used in the characterization and identification of crystalline substances, with many applications across multiple disciplines. The principles behind the technique are relatively simple, training is simple, and instruments require little maintenance. As such, an X-ray diffraction lab is an ideally versatile facility for ongoing and future multidisciplinary research and educational activities at California State University Bakersfield (CSUB), a small regional state university. The X-ray diffraction instrumentation funded by this award will be utilized by a team led by geological sciences faculty with experience in establishing, maintaining, and sustaining sophisticated instrument laboratories at CSUB and a strong record of externally-funded research. They will be joined by a multi-disciplinary group of junior faculty with strong, student-centered research programs and a commitment to student research and training. The instrument will support existing and enable new research directions and collaborations between faculty at CSUB and promote collaborations with researchers from other institutions. The new instrument will provide research training for students at a minority-serving institution in a region with a large and fast-growing population from groups underrepresented in the sciences and engineering. It will also be an integral part of teaching at CSUB and neighboring partner institutions such as Bakersfield College and Taft College. The instrument will also enhance outreach efforts to high schools and science teacher training initiatives which are partly supported by separate NSF funding.Specifically, this award funds the acquisition of a new PANalytical Inc. Empyrean X-ray diffractometer (XRD) to replace an outdated instrument acquired in 1991. The selected instrument has very versatile capabilities making it ideal for applications in different fields. The proposed instrument will allow continuation and timely completion of existing multi-disciplinary research projects in several natural sciences disciplines, as well as in engineering, and anthropology. Researchers in geological sciences will use the instrumentation to characterize geologic formations proposed for carbon capture and sequestration in the San Joaquin Valley, CA, to elucidate the paleoclimatic records from paleolake deposits in the Carrizo Plain, CA, examine thermodynamic properties of environmentally-relevant minerals, characterize the mineralogical composition of dust generated from desert soils near Las Vegas, NV, identify and quantify of clay and zeolite minerals involved in diagenesis of sandstones in stream and lake environments, provide baseline measurements of crystallinity and groundmass-crystal speciation as a geothermometer for welded tuffs, and establish strain and phyllitic alteration gradients across intra-batholith faults in the Sierra Nevada Batholith. Collaborative work with researchers outside of geological sciences will determine the physical parameters of soils that support the growth of the valley fever pathogen (Biology), examine the structure of soft matter such as cellulose and its relationship to physical properties (Engineering), and sourcing of archaeological materials (Anthropology).