UChicago Argonne, LLC

Randy Alkire

Deming Shu

Curt Alfred Preissner

Andrzej Joachimiak

Zhonghou Cai

Wah-Keat Lee

Daniel Nocher

Stephan Ginell

Yufeng Han

Robert G Schuessler

Juan Barraza, Jr

Peter Lee

The invention provides a beam intensity/positioning monitor substrate comprising a first metal foil in physical contact with a second metal foil. Also provided is a method for determining mass absorption coefficients, the method comprising measuring the absorption of an incident radiation beam by a first metal and a second metal comprising a bi-metal foil as a function of a first energy and a second energy; calculating the relative first metal thickness; using the relative thickness as a target value for the first metal fitting procedure; repeat the above steps on a free standing first metal foil; using the free standing first metal absorption measurements, bulk first metal density and first (bimetal) fit coefficients to determine first metal foil thickness; using free standing first metal to conduct a high resolution scan from just below its absorption edge to 1 keV or higher in energy; and using the free standing first metal absorption measurements below the absorption edge and experimentally determined thickness to compute mass absorption coefficients below its absorption edge.

Bi-metal foil for a beam intensity/position monitor, method for determining mass absorption coefficients

A method and robot-based automation system are provided for cryogenic crystal sample mounting, for example, for use for cryogenic crystal sample mounting in the x-ray crystallography station at an x-ray source. The system includes a robot arm carrying a handset. The handset includes a pair of elongated fingers for sample mounting, and each finger carrying a set of strain gauge arrays for providing force sensing. A slim finger design allows a sample mounting process with no interference with the beam stop, cryostreem and x-ray detectors. The handset can detect the contact force intensity and direction; provide a precise gripping action; and feel the results of the gripping. The finger design incorporates a mechanism to maintain the sample temperature well below the cryogenic safety margin for the crystal viability. A Dewar container is provided with an ice control system and liquid nitrogen flow control. A triangular sample magazine maximizes the Dewar space usage. A miniature kinematical mounting sample holder provides near micron positioning repeatability. These capabilities make the robot-arm more powerful, flexible, and reliable.

Robot-based automation system for cryogenic crystal sample mounting

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Romeoville, IL, United States of America

Randy Alkire