Partner User Proposal Abstract

Novel X-ray Spectroscopies and Microscopies for the Determination of Structure with Atomic Resolution (PUP-24)

This proposal describes plans for new and continuing instrument development that requires substantial fiscal, organizational, and intellectual interaction with the proposers and the leadership/staff of the APS. We hope to work with the APS to make sector 20 the premier sector for x-ray energy-scanning techniques, such as XAFS, DAFS, non-resonant x-ray Raman scattering, etc., with dominant emphasis on the various different modes of measurement of XAFS. We will focus on the special instrumentation needs of researchers in the environmental sciences (broadly defined to include the earth sciences and environmental and bioenvironmental chemistry), condensed matter physics, and physical chemistry. This effort will include the refinement, development, and/or provision of

  1. the continued development of apparatus for the various relevant applications of XAFS
    the continued or new development of related novel x-ray energy-scanning techniques or

  2. other techniques that provide a novel view of structure with atomic resolution, such as

    • high-throughput time-resolved XAFS,
    • high-throughput q-dependent measurements of non-resonant x-ray Raman scattering,
    • diffraction anomalous fine structure (DAFS).
    • Coherent Bragg-rod analysis (COBRA)

Whenever possible, these projects will involve a strong educational component. We consider the combination of the strong intellectual input of the authors and the outstanding educational and workforce development opportunities to be a central part of both our present protocol and also our continuing vision for the future of sector 20. The track record of the authors of this PUP in workforce development is extremely strong: numerous sector directors, beamline scientists, and post-docs at several synchrotrons (including especially the APS) have come from our research groups. Six projects will be incorporated.