X-ray Scattering Technology Core

Abstract – X-ray Scattering Technology Core The X-ray Scattering Technology Core will provide user access to the Life Science X-ray Scattering (LiX) beamline. During the current funding period we have refined the scientific focus of the LiX beamline, concentrating on supporting solution scattering from biological macromolecules in solution and scanning imaging of biological tissues, while improving our technical capabilities in these two areas. The need to support mail-in measurements during the COVID pandemic required us to provide reliable automation for data collection and processing, which we have achieved. To accommodate the influx of users due to the Advanced Photon Source (APS) upgrade, we have redesigned our solution scattering sample handler to support measurement based on both flow cells and fixed cells, and to gain more usable beam time by minimizing the need to reconfigure the experimental setup. At the same time, under the Department of Energy (DOE) Biological and Environmental Research (BER) support parallel to this P30 grant, we have developed scanning structural mapping and tomographical imaging using scattering contrast. We also developed python software that enabled automation in data processing, and GUIs for data visualization. Under a BNL internal Laboratory Director’s Research and Development (LDRD) grant, we also explored integrative data analysis. These new capabilities will be rolled out to our users for routine use in the upcoming funding period. In this renewal, we will continue to provide reliable access to these capabilities and progressively improve the underlying technical tools and instrument usability. To support solution scattering, we will optimize data collection triggering, enhance the integration of the HPLC system into our data collection workflow, and adopt a co-flow device for in-line liquid chromatography measurements. To support scanning structural mapping, we will implement fly scans for in-vacuum measurements on thin tissue sections. In addition, we will work on providing more software tools to help users evaluate data quality and perform data processing and analysis. We will make these tools readily accessible via the centralized computing resources supported by the National Synchrotron Light Source-II (NSLS-II), and will provide training opportunities. We will continue to perform routine maintenance and implement new software tools to improve beam stability and to manage experimental configuration changes. We also plan to upgrade our scattering detectors to ensure uninterrupted operation of the beamline, and to install fluorescence detectors to enable simultaneous data collection for elemental mapping.