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

X射线衍射是一种用于表征和鉴定结晶物质的基本分析技术，在多个学科中有许多应用。这项技术背后的原理相对简单，培训也很简单，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贝克斯菲尔德分校(CSUB)正在进行的和未来的多学科研究和教育活动的理想多功能设施，这是一所小型地区性州立大学。由该奖项资助的X射线衍射仪将由一个由地质科学系领导的团队使用，该团队拥有在CSUB建立、维护和维持尖端仪器实验室的经验，并有良好的外部资助研究记录。他们将加入一个由初级教员组成的多学科小组，他们拥有强大的、以学生为中心的研究计划，并致力于学生的研究和培训。该仪器将支持现有的研究方向和CSUB教职员工之间的合作，并促进与其他机构的研究人员的合作。这一新工具将为一所为少数族裔服务的机构的学生提供研究培训。该地区人口众多且快速增长，这些学生来自科学和工程领域代表性较低的群体。它也将是CSUB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不可或缺的一部分。该仪器还将加强对高中的推广工作和科学教师培训计划，这些活动部分得到了NSF单独基金的支持。具体地说，该奖项资助购买了一台新的PANalytical Inc.empyrean X射线衍射仪(X射线衍射仪)，以取代1991年购买的过时仪器。选定的仪器具有非常多功能的功能，使其成为不同领域应用的理想选择。拟议的文书将使若干自然科学学科以及工程学和人类学的现有多学科研究项目得以继续并及时完成。地质科学领域的研究人员将利用该仪器来描述提议在加利福尼亚州圣华金河谷进行碳捕获和封存的地质构造，以阐明加利福尼亚州卡里佐平原古湖泊沉积的古气候记录，研究与环境相关的矿物的热力学性质，表征内华达州拉斯维加斯附近沙漠土壤产生的粉尘的矿物组成，识别和量化参与溪流和湖泊环境中砂岩成岩作用的粘土和沸石矿物，提供结晶度和底质晶体形态的基线测量，作为焊接凝灰岩的地质温度计，并建立跨越内华达山脉岩基内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合作，将确定支持谷热病原体生长的土壤的物理参数(生物学)，研究纤维素等软物质的结构及其与物理特性的关系(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).