A penetrating view of the three-dimensional nanostructure of female spermatheca and male flagellum in the species Aleochara verna is obtained with 100-nm resolution using a hard X-ray microscope, which provides a fast...A penetrating view of the three-dimensional nanostructure of female spermatheca and male flagellum in the species Aleochara verna is obtained with 100-nm resolution using a hard X-ray microscope, which provides a fast noninvasive imaging technology for insect morphology. Through introducing Zernike phase contrast and heavy metal staining, images taken at 8 keV displayed sufficient contrast for observing nanoscale fine structures, such as the spermatheca cochleate duct and the subapex of the flagellum, which have some implications for the study of the sperm transfer process and genital evolution in insects. This work shows that both the spatial resolution and the contrast characteristic of hard X-ray microscopy are quite promising for insect morphology studies and, particularly, provide an attractive alternative to the destructive techniques used for investigating internal soft tissues.展开更多
Hefei Light Source(HLS)is a synchrotron radiation light source that primarily produces vacuum ultraviolet and soft X-rays.It currently consists of ten experimental stations,including a soft X-ray microscopy station.As...Hefei Light Source(HLS)is a synchrotron radiation light source that primarily produces vacuum ultraviolet and soft X-rays.It currently consists of ten experimental stations,including a soft X-ray microscopy station.As part of its on-going efforts to establish a centralized scientific data management platform,HLS is in the process of developing a test sys-tem that covers the entire lifecycle of scientific data,including data generation,acquisition,processing,analysis,and de-struction.However,the instruments used in the soft X-ray microscopy experimental station rely on commercial propriet-ary software for data acquisition and processing.We developed a semi-automatic data acquisition program to facilitate the integration of soft X-ray microscopy stations into a centralized scientific data management platform.Additionally,we cre-ated an online data processing platform to assist users in analyzing their scientific data.The system we developed and de-ployed meets the design requirements,successfully integrating the soft X-ray microscopy station into the full lifecycle management of scientific data.展开更多
A new interferometer for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation with a laser produced plasma (LPP) laboratory source is under construction. The LPP source is operated with a Sn solid rod target on which pulsed YAG laser ...A new interferometer for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation with a laser produced plasma (LPP) laboratory source is under construction. The LPP source is operated with a Sn solid rod target on which pulsed YAG laser is focused to produce high temperature plasma emitting EUV radiation. The source is equipped with a newly designed debris stopper protecting a condenser multilayer mirror from the particle debris of the target. The condenser mirror focuses the light onto an EUV beam-splitter to form transmitted and reflected paths for producing interference fringes of a sharing type. The optical configuration is of a common path based on a triangular path type with a focusing at the beam-splitter, which is enabled to produce fringes by a low coherence radiation with a standard optical quality beam-splitter. The fringes are recorded by an imaging plate with pixels as small as 25μm. The dynamic range of linearity in detection of the EUV light was found to be more than 10 4 with sensitivity of 10 4 photons/pixel, enough for the purpose of interferogram recording, possibly with one laser shot.展开更多
Nano-scale chemical inhomogeneity in surface oxide films formed on a V-and N-containing martensite stainless steel and tempering heating induced changes are investigated by a combination of synchrotron-based hard X-ra...Nano-scale chemical inhomogeneity in surface oxide films formed on a V-and N-containing martensite stainless steel and tempering heating induced changes are investigated by a combination of synchrotron-based hard X-ray Photoelectron emission spectroscopy(HAXPES)and microscopy(HAXPEEM)as well as microscopic X-ray absorption spectroscopy(μ-XAS)techniques.The results reveal the inhomogeneity in the oxide films on the micron-sized Cr_(2)N-and VN-type particles,while the inhomogeneity on the martensite matrix phase exists due to localised formation of nano-sized tempering nitride particles at 600℃.The oxide film formed on Cr_(2)N-type particles is rich in Cr_(2)O_(3) compared with that on the martensite matrix and VN-type particles.With the increase of tempering temperature,Cr_(2)O_(3) formation is faster for the oxidation of Cr in the martensite matrix than the oxidation of Cr nitride-rich particles.展开更多
This study aims to investigate the responses of a perovskite-based direct-conversion dual-layer flat-panel detector(DL-FPD)numerically.To this end,the X-ray sensitivity,spatial resolution quantified by the modulation ...This study aims to investigate the responses of a perovskite-based direct-conversion dual-layer flat-panel detector(DL-FPD)numerically.To this end,the X-ray sensitivity,spatial resolution quantified by the modulation transfer function(MTF),and detective quantum efficiency(DQE)of the DL-FPD are evaluated numerically using a linear cascade model.In addition,both the single-crystal(SC)and polycrystalline(PC)structures of MAPbI_(3)are investigated,along with various other key parameters such as the material thickness,electric field strength,X-ray beam spectrum,and electronic readout noise.The results demonstrate that SC perovskite consistently exhibits better performance than PC perovskite owing to fewer material defects.Increasing the layer thickness may decrease the MTF,but can also enhance the sensitivity and DQE.Moreover,appropriately increasing the external electric field within the material can improve the sensitivity,MTF,and DQE.Finally,reducing the electronic readout noise can significantly enhance the DQE for low-dose imaging.This study demonstrates the potential of high-quality dual-energy X-ray imaging using direct-conversion perovskite DL-FPDs.展开更多
With the development of the semiconductor industry below the 7 nm scale,critical dimension small-angle X-ray scattering(CD-SAXS)has emerged as a powerful tool for quantitatively measuring nanoscale deviations.In this ...With the development of the semiconductor industry below the 7 nm scale,critical dimension small-angle X-ray scattering(CD-SAXS)has emerged as a powerful tool for quantitatively measuring nanoscale deviations.In this study,the effects of X-ray beam size and photon energy on the accuracy of critical dimension measurements were investigated.Critical dimensions measured using beams with different spot sizes showed different deviations from the expected values.Beam sizes that were either too large or too small did not improve confidence intervals.As the incident energy increased,the X-ray transmission rate increased,while the scattering cross section decreased,resulting in a gradual decrease in the signal-to-noise ratio of the diffraction peaks,which reduced the accuracy of the CD-SAXS measurements.An optimal accuracy was obtained at 12 keV with a smaller beam size.Using an effective trapezoid model,the results yielded an average pitch of 100.4±0.2 nm,width of 49.8±0.2 nm,height of 130.0±0.2 nm,and a sidewall angle below 1.1°±0.1°.These results provide crucial guidance for the future development of CD-SAXS laboratories and the construction of X-ray machines as well as robust support for research in related fields.展开更多
A large-scale view of the magnetospheric cusp is expected to be obtained by the Soft X-ray Imager(SXI)onboard the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer(SMILE).However,it is challenging to trace the three-d...A large-scale view of the magnetospheric cusp is expected to be obtained by the Soft X-ray Imager(SXI)onboard the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer(SMILE).However,it is challenging to trace the three-dimensional cusp boundary from a two-dimensional X-ray image because the detected X-ray signals will be integrated along the line of sight.In this work,a global magnetohydrodynamic code was used to simulate the X-ray images and photon count images,assuming an interplanetary magnetic field with a pure Bz component.The assumption of an elliptic cusp boundary at a given altitude was used to trace the equatorward and poleward boundaries of the cusp from a simulated X-ray image.The average discrepancy was less than 0.1 RE.To reduce the influence of instrument effects and cosmic X-ray backgrounds,image denoising was considered before applying the method above to SXI photon count images.The cusp boundaries were reasonably reconstructed from the noisy X-ray image.展开更多
This comprehensive study investigates the formation and evolution of intermetallic compounds during the solidification process of magnesium alloys using advanced micro X-ray computed tomography.By analyzing both commo...This comprehensive study investigates the formation and evolution of intermetallic compounds during the solidification process of magnesium alloys using advanced micro X-ray computed tomography.By analyzing both common industrial Mg-Al-Zn alloys and a novel rare earth-containing Mg-Ni-Gd-Y alloy,we aim to characterize the nucleation,growth,and distribution of Al-Mn and eutectic intermetallics across various stages of solidification.The non destructive imaging technique employed in this research provides high-resolution,three-dimensional insights into the microstructural development,allowing for a detailed examination of the morphology,spatial arrangement,and interconnectivity of intermetallic phases.This approach overcomes limitations of traditional two-dimensional metallographic methods,offering a more comprehensive understanding of the complex three-dimensional structures formed during solidification.展开更多
Microscopy imaging is fundamental in analyzing bacterial morphology and dynamics,offering critical insights into bacterial physiology and pathogenicity.Image segmentation techniques enable quantitative analysis of bac...Microscopy imaging is fundamental in analyzing bacterial morphology and dynamics,offering critical insights into bacterial physiology and pathogenicity.Image segmentation techniques enable quantitative analysis of bacterial structures,facilitating precise measurement of morphological variations and population behaviors at single-cell resolution.This paper reviews advancements in bacterial image segmentation,emphasizing the shift from traditional thresholding and watershed methods to deep learning-driven approaches.Convolutional neural networks(CNNs),U-Net architectures,and three-dimensional(3D)frameworks excel at segmenting dense biofilms and resolving antibiotic-induced morphological changes.These methods combine automated feature extraction with physics-informed postprocessing.Despite progress,challenges persist in computational efficiency,cross-species generalizability,and integration with multimodal experimental workflows.Future progress will depend on improving model robustness across species and imaging modalities,integrating multimodal data for phenotype-function mapping,and developing standard pipelines that link computational tools with clinical diagnostics.These innovations will expand microbial phenotyping beyond structural analysis,enabling deeper insights into bacterial physiology and ecological interactions.展开更多
Desulfurization of CaO–Al_(2)O_(3) particles in molten steel was observed in situ using high-temperature confocal scanning laser microscopy.The effects of the aluminum and silicon contents of molten steel on desulfur...Desulfurization of CaO–Al_(2)O_(3) particles in molten steel was observed in situ using high-temperature confocal scanning laser microscopy.The effects of the aluminum and silicon contents of molten steel on desulfurization were analyzed.When the total aluminum content in the steel increased from 6 to 1100 ppm,the CaS content in CaO–Al_(2)O_(3) particles increased from 2.1wt%to 84.84wt%after the reaction for 90 s.Furthermore,when the silicon content in the steel increased from 0.01wt%to 2.20wt%,the CaS content in CaO–Al_(2)O_(3) particles increased from 1.53wt%to 79.01wt%after the reaction for 90 s.This indicates that the increase in the aluminum and silicon contents of the steel promoted the desulfurization of CaO–Al_(2)O_(3) particles.A kinetic model was established to predict the CaO–Al_(2)O_(3) particles composition,and the diffusion coefficient of sulfur in CaO–Al_(2)O_(3) particles was 9.375×10^(−10)m^(2)·s^(−1) at 1600℃,which provided a new method for the calculation of diffusion coefficient.展开更多
Van der Waals(vdW)heterostructures have attracted much attention due to their distinctive optical,electrical,and thermal properties,demonstrating promising potential in areas such as photocatalysis,ultrafast photonics...Van der Waals(vdW)heterostructures have attracted much attention due to their distinctive optical,electrical,and thermal properties,demonstrating promising potential in areas such as photocatalysis,ultrafast photonics,and free electron radiation devices.Particularly,they are promising platforms for studying thermionic emission.It is illustrated that using vdW heterostructure-based thermionic emission can enhance heat transfer in vacuum devices.As a proof of concept,the approach is demonstrated to offer a promising solution for the long-standing overheating issue in X-ray tubes.Specifically,it is shown that the saturated target temperature of a 2000 W X-ray tube can be reduced from around 1200℃ to 490℃.Additionally,it is also demonstrated that by reducing the height of the Schottky barrier formed in the vdW heterostructures,the thermionic cooling performance can be enhanced.The findings pave the way for the development of high-power X-ray tubes.展开更多
Stars getting close enough to black holes(BHs)can be torn apart by strong tidal forces,producing electromagnetic flares.To date,more than 100 tidal disruption events(TDEs)have been observed,each involving invariably n...Stars getting close enough to black holes(BHs)can be torn apart by strong tidal forces,producing electromagnetic flares.To date,more than 100 tidal disruption events(TDEs)have been observed,each involving invariably normal gaseous stars whose debris falls onto the BH,sustaining the flares over years.White dwarfs(WDs),which are the most prevalent compact stars and a million times denser-and therefore tougher-than gaseous stars,can only be disrupted by intermediate-mass black holes(IMBHs)of 10^(2)–10^(5) solar masses.WD-TDEs are considered to generate more powerful and short-lived flares,but their evidence has been lacking.Here we report observations of a fast and luminous X-ray transient EP250702a detected by Einstein Probe.Its one-day-long X-ray peak as luminous as 10^(47−49) erg s^(−1) showed strong recurrent flares with hard spectra extending to several tens of MeV gamma-rays,as detected by Fermi/GBM and Konus-Wind,indicating relativistic jet emission.The jet's X-rays dropped sharply from 3×10^(49) erg s^(−1) to around 1044 erg s^(−1) within 20 days(10 days in the source rest frame).These characteristics are inconsistent with any previously known transient phenomena.We suggest that this fast-evolving event over the unprecedentedly short timescale arises likely from disruption of a WD by an IMBH.At late times,a soft component progressively dominates the X-ray spectrum,reaching a luminosity as high as 1044 erg s^(−1),which is consistent with being extreme super-Eddington emission from an accretion disk expected to form in an IMBH-WD TDE.WD-TDEs open a new window for investigating the elusive IMBHs and their surrounding stellar environments,and they are prime sources of gravitational waves in the band of space-based interferometers.展开更多
Lead halide perovskites have emerged as promising scintillators for X-ray imaging owing to their high Xray absorption efficiency,excellent luminescence properties,and facile synthesis.However,their intrinsic ionic nat...Lead halide perovskites have emerged as promising scintillators for X-ray imaging owing to their high Xray absorption efficiency,excellent luminescence properties,and facile synthesis.However,their intrinsic ionic nature poses a fundamental challenge in simultaneously achieving high photoluminescence efficiency and environmental robustness.Here,we introduce a multilevel encapsulation strategy by sequentially coating CsPbBr_(3)quantum dots(QDs)with Cs_(4)PbBr_(6),SiO_(2),and polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS),thereby synergistically enhancing both optical performance and stability.Cs_(4)PbBr_(6)effectively passivates surface defects of CsPbBr_(3)QDs,while the SiO_(2)and PDMS layers serve as protective barriers against moisture,heat,and radiation.The resulting CsPbBr_(3)@Cs_(4)PbBr_(6)/SiO_(2)/PDMS flexible films exhibit a high photoluminescence quantum yield of 85%,outstanding mechanical flexibility,and remarkable durability under stretching,bending,and compressing.Moreover,the films retain excellent emission stability under elevated temperatures,prolonged X-ray irradiation,and extended water immersion.X-ray imaging evaluations further demonstrate a spatial resolution of 12 lp/mm,enabling distortion-free imaging of curved objects,while their superior water resistance allows for long-term underwater X-ray imaging.This work highlights the critical role of hierarchical encapsulation in balancing luminescence efficiency and environmental stability,offering a viable pathway toward practical high-performance flexible perovskite scintillators.展开更多
Formamidinium lead iodide(FAPbI_(3))perovskite exhibits an impressive X-ray absorption coefficient and a large carrier mobility-lifetime product(μτ),making it as a highly promising candidate for X-ray detection appl...Formamidinium lead iodide(FAPbI_(3))perovskite exhibits an impressive X-ray absorption coefficient and a large carrier mobility-lifetime product(μτ),making it as a highly promising candidate for X-ray detection application.However,the presence of larger FA^(+)cation induces to an expansion of the Pb-I octahedral framework,which unfortunately affects both the stability and charge carrier mobility of the corresponding devices.To address this challenge,we develop a novel low-dimensional(HtrzT)PbI_(3) perovskite featuring a conjugated organic cation(1H-1,2,4-Triazole-3-thiol,HtrzT^(+))which matches well with theα-FAPbI_(3) lattices in two-dimensional plane.Benefiting from the matched lattice between(HtrzT)PbI_(3) andα-FAPbI_(3),the anchored lattice enhances the Pb-I bond strength and effectively mitigates the inherent tensile strain of theα-FAPbI_(3) crystal lattice.The X-ray detector based on(HtrzT)PbI_(3)(1.0)/FAPbI_(3) device achieves a remarkable sensitivity up to 1.83×10^(5)μC Gy_(air)^(−1) cm^(−2),along with a low detection limit of 27.6 nGy_(air) s^(−1),attributed to the release of residual stress,and the enhancement in carrier mobility-lifetime product.Furthermore,the detector exhibits outstanding stability under X-ray irradiation with tolerating doses equivalent to nearly 1.17×10^(6) chest imaging doses.展开更多
Soft X-ray detectors play a vital role in materials science,high-energy physics and medical imaging.Cs_(2)AgBiBr_(6),a lead-free double perovskite,has gained attention for its excellent optoelectronic properties,stabi...Soft X-ray detectors play a vital role in materials science,high-energy physics and medical imaging.Cs_(2)AgBiBr_(6),a lead-free double perovskite,has gained attention for its excellent optoelectronic properties,stability,and nontoxicity.However,its fast crystallization and requirement for high-temperature annealing(>250℃)often lead to inferior film quality,limiting its application in flexible devices.This study introduces an alloying strategy that significantly improves the quality of Cs_(2)AgBiBr_(6)thin films annealed at a reduced temperature of 150℃.Devices based on the alloyed thin films exhibit an ultra-low dark current of 0.32 nA·cm^(-2)and a quantum efficiency of 725%.Furthermore,the first successful integration of Cs_(2)AgBiBr_(6)with a thinfilm transistor backplane demonstrates its superior imaging performance,indicating that Cs_(2)AgBiBr_(6)is a promising material for next-generation soft X-ray sensors.展开更多
Since the invention of Zernike phase contrast method in 1930,it has been widely used in optical microscopy and more recently in X-ray microscopy.Considering the image contrast is a mixture of absorption and phase info...Since the invention of Zernike phase contrast method in 1930,it has been widely used in optical microscopy and more recently in X-ray microscopy.Considering the image contrast is a mixture of absorption and phase information,we recently have proposed and demonstrated a method for quantitative phase retrieval in Zernike phase contrast X-ray microscopy.In this contribution,we analyze the performance of this method at different photon energies.Intensity images of PMMA samples are simulated at 2.5 keV and 6.2 keV,respectively,and phase retrieval is performed using the proposed method.The results demonstrate that the proposed phase retrieval method is applicable over a wide energy range.For weakly absorbing features,the optimal photon energy is 2.5 keV,from the point of view of image contrast and accuracy of phase retrieval.On the other hand,in the case of strong absorption objects,a higher photon energy is preferred to reduce the error of phase retrieval.These results can be used as guidelines to perform quantitative phase retrieval in Zernike phase contrast X-ray microscopy with the proposed method.展开更多
In the light of Synchrotron Radiation X-ray Tomographic Microscopy （SRXTM）, the internal structure of Markuelia hunanensis is revealed. In one example, vitrification and peeling show the annuli hidden under the chor...In the light of Synchrotron Radiation X-ray Tomographic Microscopy （SRXTM）, the internal structure of Markuelia hunanensis is revealed. In one example, vitrification and peeling show the annuli hidden under the chorion. Sectioning and 3-D reconstruction display an intact digestive tract from the inverted introvert to the terminal anus. The inverted introvert forms a rugby cavum. The following digestive tract is rope-like coiling, parallel to the body axis, about 650 μm in length, and uniform in diameter （-80 μm）. An exquisitely preserved pipe-like structure is hidden in the middle of the rope-like structure, diameter 20--40 lam, with a length of -120 μm. We interpret this pipe-like structure as the possible epidermis of the gut and its surroundings as the possible residue of musculature, similar to that in Priapulans. The two symmetrical rod-shape structures connecting the body wall and digestive tract are interpreted as the possible retractor muscles. After comparing the well preserved Left-form and Right-form Body of Markuelia, we suggest that they may represent a dimorphism. Counted directly, one sample of Markuelia hunanensis possesses 62 annulations and the other 68.展开更多
By Using （scanning） transmission electron microscopy, localized-corrosion morphology variations of the AA7055 AIZn（Cu）Mg alloy with different thermal processes and their underlying microscopic causes were investig...By Using （scanning） transmission electron microscopy, localized-corrosion morphology variations of the AA7055 AIZn（Cu）Mg alloy with different thermal processes and their underlying microscopic causes were investigated systematically. Our study shows that the corrosion resistance of the nanoscale precipitates varies with their structure type and Cu-content. Just like the Al-matrix, the early-stage precipitates are corrosion resistant, as compared with the ηp/η-precipitates without high Cu-content. With a high Cu-content, however, the η-precipitates become most corrosion resistant among all phases involved. Hence, tailoring the precipitate microstructure and chemistry though thermal processes may change the overall corrosion morphology and improve corrosion resistance property of the alloy.展开更多
Through the investigation of the sample surface and interface of 3, 4, 9, 10-perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride （PTCDA）/indium-tin-oxide （ITO） thin films using atomic force microscopy, it has been found that the ...Through the investigation of the sample surface and interface of 3, 4, 9, 10-perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride （PTCDA）/indium-tin-oxide （ITO） thin films using atomic force microscopy, it has been found that the surface is complanate, the growth is uniform and the defects cover basically the surface of ITO. Furthermore, the number of pinholes is small. The analysis of the sample surface and interface further verifies this result by using x-ray photoemission spectroscopy. At the same time, PTCDA is found to have the ability of restraining the diffusion of chemical constituents from ITO to the hole transport layer, which is beneficial to the improvement of the performance and the useful lifetime of the organic light emitting diodes （OLEDs）.展开更多
Detection of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria has largely been dependent on targeted gene sequencing technology or traditional cell cultivation, which usually takes from days to months to carry out. This clearly does not mee...Detection of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria has largely been dependent on targeted gene sequencing technology or traditional cell cultivation, which usually takes from days to months to carry out. This clearly does not meet the requirements of analysis for time-sensitive samples and/or complicated environmental samples. Since energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry(EDS) can be used to simultaneously detect multiple elements in a sample, including sulfur, with minimal sample treatment, this technology was applied to detect sulfur-oxidizing bacteria using their high sulfur content within the cell. This article describes the application of scanning electron microscopy imaging coupled with EDS mapping for quick detection of sulfur oxidizers in contaminated environmental water samples, with minimal sample handling. Scanning electron microscopy imaging revealed the existence of dense granules within the bacterial cells, while EDS identified large amounts of sulfur within them. EDS mapping localized the sulfur to these granules. Subsequent 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that the bacteria detected in our samples belonged to the genus Chromatium, which are sulfur oxidizers. Thus, EDS mapping made it possible to identify sulfur oxidizers in environmental samples based on localized sulfur within their cells, within a short time(within 24 h of sampling). This technique has wide ranging applications for detection of sulfur bacteria in environmental water samples.展开更多
基金the National Basic Research Program of China(Grant Nos.2012CB825800 and 2009CB930804)the Key Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.10734070 and 10774144)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.11205189,10979055,31071909,and 31272358)the Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.KJCX2-YW-N42)
文摘A penetrating view of the three-dimensional nanostructure of female spermatheca and male flagellum in the species Aleochara verna is obtained with 100-nm resolution using a hard X-ray microscope, which provides a fast noninvasive imaging technology for insect morphology. Through introducing Zernike phase contrast and heavy metal staining, images taken at 8 keV displayed sufficient contrast for observing nanoscale fine structures, such as the spermatheca cochleate duct and the subapex of the flagellum, which have some implications for the study of the sperm transfer process and genital evolution in insects. This work shows that both the spatial resolution and the contrast characteristic of hard X-ray microscopy are quite promising for insect morphology studies and, particularly, provide an attractive alternative to the destructive techniques used for investigating internal soft tissues.
基金supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(WK2310000102)。
文摘Hefei Light Source(HLS)is a synchrotron radiation light source that primarily produces vacuum ultraviolet and soft X-rays.It currently consists of ten experimental stations,including a soft X-ray microscopy station.As part of its on-going efforts to establish a centralized scientific data management platform,HLS is in the process of developing a test sys-tem that covers the entire lifecycle of scientific data,including data generation,acquisition,processing,analysis,and de-struction.However,the instruments used in the soft X-ray microscopy experimental station rely on commercial propriet-ary software for data acquisition and processing.We developed a semi-automatic data acquisition program to facilitate the integration of soft X-ray microscopy stations into a centralized scientific data management platform.Additionally,we cre-ated an online data processing platform to assist users in analyzing their scientific data.The system we developed and de-ployed meets the design requirements,successfully integrating the soft X-ray microscopy station into the full lifecycle management of scientific data.
文摘A new interferometer for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation with a laser produced plasma (LPP) laboratory source is under construction. The LPP source is operated with a Sn solid rod target on which pulsed YAG laser is focused to produce high temperature plasma emitting EUV radiation. The source is equipped with a newly designed debris stopper protecting a condenser multilayer mirror from the particle debris of the target. The condenser mirror focuses the light onto an EUV beam-splitter to form transmitted and reflected paths for producing interference fringes of a sharing type. The optical configuration is of a common path based on a triangular path type with a focusing at the beam-splitter, which is enabled to produce fringes by a low coherence radiation with a standard optical quality beam-splitter. The fringes are recorded by an imaging plate with pixels as small as 25μm. The dynamic range of linearity in detection of the EUV light was found to be more than 10 4 with sensitivity of 10 4 photons/pixel, enough for the purpose of interferogram recording, possibly with one laser shot.
基金supported by the Vinnova(project number 2020-03778)supported by the Swedish Research Council(Vetenskapsradet,project number 2021-04157).
文摘Nano-scale chemical inhomogeneity in surface oxide films formed on a V-and N-containing martensite stainless steel and tempering heating induced changes are investigated by a combination of synchrotron-based hard X-ray Photoelectron emission spectroscopy(HAXPES)and microscopy(HAXPEEM)as well as microscopic X-ray absorption spectroscopy(μ-XAS)techniques.The results reveal the inhomogeneity in the oxide films on the micron-sized Cr_(2)N-and VN-type particles,while the inhomogeneity on the martensite matrix phase exists due to localised formation of nano-sized tempering nitride particles at 600℃.The oxide film formed on Cr_(2)N-type particles is rich in Cr_(2)O_(3) compared with that on the martensite matrix and VN-type particles.With the increase of tempering temperature,Cr_(2)O_(3) formation is faster for the oxidation of Cr in the martensite matrix than the oxidation of Cr nitride-rich particles.
基金supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.12305349,12235006,12027812)Shenzhen Science and Technology Program(No.JSGGKQTD20210831174329010)Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(No.2021TQ06Y108).
文摘This study aims to investigate the responses of a perovskite-based direct-conversion dual-layer flat-panel detector(DL-FPD)numerically.To this end,the X-ray sensitivity,spatial resolution quantified by the modulation transfer function(MTF),and detective quantum efficiency(DQE)of the DL-FPD are evaluated numerically using a linear cascade model.In addition,both the single-crystal(SC)and polycrystalline(PC)structures of MAPbI_(3)are investigated,along with various other key parameters such as the material thickness,electric field strength,X-ray beam spectrum,and electronic readout noise.The results demonstrate that SC perovskite consistently exhibits better performance than PC perovskite owing to fewer material defects.Increasing the layer thickness may decrease the MTF,but can also enhance the sensitivity and DQE.Moreover,appropriately increasing the external electric field within the material can improve the sensitivity,MTF,and DQE.Finally,reducing the electronic readout noise can significantly enhance the DQE for low-dose imaging.This study demonstrates the potential of high-quality dual-energy X-ray imaging using direct-conversion perovskite DL-FPDs.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.12175295)the National Key R&D Program of China(2021YFA1601000)the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project。
文摘With the development of the semiconductor industry below the 7 nm scale,critical dimension small-angle X-ray scattering(CD-SAXS)has emerged as a powerful tool for quantitatively measuring nanoscale deviations.In this study,the effects of X-ray beam size and photon energy on the accuracy of critical dimension measurements were investigated.Critical dimensions measured using beams with different spot sizes showed different deviations from the expected values.Beam sizes that were either too large or too small did not improve confidence intervals.As the incident energy increased,the X-ray transmission rate increased,while the scattering cross section decreased,resulting in a gradual decrease in the signal-to-noise ratio of the diffraction peaks,which reduced the accuracy of the CD-SAXS measurements.An optimal accuracy was obtained at 12 keV with a smaller beam size.Using an effective trapezoid model,the results yielded an average pitch of 100.4±0.2 nm,width of 49.8±0.2 nm,height of 130.0±0.2 nm,and a sidewall angle below 1.1°±0.1°.These results provide crucial guidance for the future development of CD-SAXS laboratories and the construction of X-ray machines as well as robust support for research in related fields.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NNSFC)under Grant Numbers 42322408,42188101,and 42441809Additional support was provided by the Climbing Program of the National Space Science Center(NSSC,Grant No.E4PD3005)as well as the Specialized Research Fund for State Key Laboratories of China.
文摘A large-scale view of the magnetospheric cusp is expected to be obtained by the Soft X-ray Imager(SXI)onboard the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer(SMILE).However,it is challenging to trace the three-dimensional cusp boundary from a two-dimensional X-ray image because the detected X-ray signals will be integrated along the line of sight.In this work,a global magnetohydrodynamic code was used to simulate the X-ray images and photon count images,assuming an interplanetary magnetic field with a pure Bz component.The assumption of an elliptic cusp boundary at a given altitude was used to trace the equatorward and poleward boundaries of the cusp from a simulated X-ray image.The average discrepancy was less than 0.1 RE.To reduce the influence of instrument effects and cosmic X-ray backgrounds,image denoising was considered before applying the method above to SXI photon count images.The cusp boundaries were reasonably reconstructed from the noisy X-ray image.
基金Project(2023YFB4606200)supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of ChinaProject(2023-SSRF-HZ-503114-2)supported by Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility,Instrument BL16U2,China。
文摘This comprehensive study investigates the formation and evolution of intermetallic compounds during the solidification process of magnesium alloys using advanced micro X-ray computed tomography.By analyzing both common industrial Mg-Al-Zn alloys and a novel rare earth-containing Mg-Ni-Gd-Y alloy,we aim to characterize the nucleation,growth,and distribution of Al-Mn and eutectic intermetallics across various stages of solidification.The non destructive imaging technique employed in this research provides high-resolution,three-dimensional insights into the microstructural development,allowing for a detailed examination of the morphology,spatial arrangement,and interconnectivity of intermetallic phases.This approach overcomes limitations of traditional two-dimensional metallographic methods,offering a more comprehensive understanding of the complex three-dimensional structures formed during solidification.
基金financially supported by the Open Project Program of Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics(No.2022WNLOKF009)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.62475216)+2 种基金the Key Research and Development Program of Shaanxi(No.2024GH-ZDXM-37)the Fujian Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(No.2024J01060)the Startup Program of XMU,and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities.
文摘Microscopy imaging is fundamental in analyzing bacterial morphology and dynamics,offering critical insights into bacterial physiology and pathogenicity.Image segmentation techniques enable quantitative analysis of bacterial structures,facilitating precise measurement of morphological variations and population behaviors at single-cell resolution.This paper reviews advancements in bacterial image segmentation,emphasizing the shift from traditional thresholding and watershed methods to deep learning-driven approaches.Convolutional neural networks(CNNs),U-Net architectures,and three-dimensional(3D)frameworks excel at segmenting dense biofilms and resolving antibiotic-induced morphological changes.These methods combine automated feature extraction with physics-informed postprocessing.Despite progress,challenges persist in computational efficiency,cross-species generalizability,and integration with multimodal experimental workflows.Future progress will depend on improving model robustness across species and imaging modalities,integrating multimodal data for phenotype-function mapping,and developing standard pipelines that link computational tools with clinical diagnostics.These innovations will expand microbial phenotyping beyond structural analysis,enabling deeper insights into bacterial physiology and ecological interactions.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2023YFB3709900)the National Nature Science Foundation of China(No.U22A20171)+1 种基金the China Baowu Low Carbon Metallurgy Innovation Foundation(No.BWLCF202315)the High Steel Center(HSC)at North China University of Technology and University of Science and Technology Beijing,China.
文摘Desulfurization of CaO–Al_(2)O_(3) particles in molten steel was observed in situ using high-temperature confocal scanning laser microscopy.The effects of the aluminum and silicon contents of molten steel on desulfurization were analyzed.When the total aluminum content in the steel increased from 6 to 1100 ppm,the CaS content in CaO–Al_(2)O_(3) particles increased from 2.1wt%to 84.84wt%after the reaction for 90 s.Furthermore,when the silicon content in the steel increased from 0.01wt%to 2.20wt%,the CaS content in CaO–Al_(2)O_(3) particles increased from 1.53wt%to 79.01wt%after the reaction for 90 s.This indicates that the increase in the aluminum and silicon contents of the steel promoted the desulfurization of CaO–Al_(2)O_(3) particles.A kinetic model was established to predict the CaO–Al_(2)O_(3) particles composition,and the diffusion coefficient of sulfur in CaO–Al_(2)O_(3) particles was 9.375×10^(−10)m^(2)·s^(−1) at 1600℃,which provided a new method for the calculation of diffusion coefficient.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(61921002 and 92163204)。
文摘Van der Waals(vdW)heterostructures have attracted much attention due to their distinctive optical,electrical,and thermal properties,demonstrating promising potential in areas such as photocatalysis,ultrafast photonics,and free electron radiation devices.Particularly,they are promising platforms for studying thermionic emission.It is illustrated that using vdW heterostructure-based thermionic emission can enhance heat transfer in vacuum devices.As a proof of concept,the approach is demonstrated to offer a promising solution for the long-standing overheating issue in X-ray tubes.Specifically,it is shown that the saturated target temperature of a 2000 W X-ray tube can be reduced from around 1200℃ to 490℃.Additionally,it is also demonstrated that by reducing the height of the Schottky barrier formed in the vdW heterostructures,the thermionic cooling performance can be enhanced.The findings pave the way for the development of high-power X-ray tubes.
文摘Stars getting close enough to black holes(BHs)can be torn apart by strong tidal forces,producing electromagnetic flares.To date,more than 100 tidal disruption events(TDEs)have been observed,each involving invariably normal gaseous stars whose debris falls onto the BH,sustaining the flares over years.White dwarfs(WDs),which are the most prevalent compact stars and a million times denser-and therefore tougher-than gaseous stars,can only be disrupted by intermediate-mass black holes(IMBHs)of 10^(2)–10^(5) solar masses.WD-TDEs are considered to generate more powerful and short-lived flares,but their evidence has been lacking.Here we report observations of a fast and luminous X-ray transient EP250702a detected by Einstein Probe.Its one-day-long X-ray peak as luminous as 10^(47−49) erg s^(−1) showed strong recurrent flares with hard spectra extending to several tens of MeV gamma-rays,as detected by Fermi/GBM and Konus-Wind,indicating relativistic jet emission.The jet's X-rays dropped sharply from 3×10^(49) erg s^(−1) to around 1044 erg s^(−1) within 20 days(10 days in the source rest frame).These characteristics are inconsistent with any previously known transient phenomena.We suggest that this fast-evolving event over the unprecedentedly short timescale arises likely from disruption of a WD by an IMBH.At late times,a soft component progressively dominates the X-ray spectrum,reaching a luminosity as high as 1044 erg s^(−1),which is consistent with being extreme super-Eddington emission from an accretion disk expected to form in an IMBH-WD TDE.WD-TDEs open a new window for investigating the elusive IMBHs and their surrounding stellar environments,and they are prime sources of gravitational waves in the band of space-based interferometers.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52250060,62274135,62288102,12504473)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2025M773420,2024M764250)+1 种基金the Key Project of Ningbo Natural Science Foundation(20221JCGY01049)the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(CPSF)(GZB20230975)。
文摘Lead halide perovskites have emerged as promising scintillators for X-ray imaging owing to their high Xray absorption efficiency,excellent luminescence properties,and facile synthesis.However,their intrinsic ionic nature poses a fundamental challenge in simultaneously achieving high photoluminescence efficiency and environmental robustness.Here,we introduce a multilevel encapsulation strategy by sequentially coating CsPbBr_(3)quantum dots(QDs)with Cs_(4)PbBr_(6),SiO_(2),and polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS),thereby synergistically enhancing both optical performance and stability.Cs_(4)PbBr_(6)effectively passivates surface defects of CsPbBr_(3)QDs,while the SiO_(2)and PDMS layers serve as protective barriers against moisture,heat,and radiation.The resulting CsPbBr_(3)@Cs_(4)PbBr_(6)/SiO_(2)/PDMS flexible films exhibit a high photoluminescence quantum yield of 85%,outstanding mechanical flexibility,and remarkable durability under stretching,bending,and compressing.Moreover,the films retain excellent emission stability under elevated temperatures,prolonged X-ray irradiation,and extended water immersion.X-ray imaging evaluations further demonstrate a spatial resolution of 12 lp/mm,enabling distortion-free imaging of curved objects,while their superior water resistance allows for long-term underwater X-ray imaging.This work highlights the critical role of hierarchical encapsulation in balancing luminescence efficiency and environmental stability,offering a viable pathway toward practical high-performance flexible perovskite scintillators.
基金supports from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22375220,U2001214,22471302)the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2024B1515020101)Open Project Fund from State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies(OEMT-2024-KF-08).
文摘Formamidinium lead iodide(FAPbI_(3))perovskite exhibits an impressive X-ray absorption coefficient and a large carrier mobility-lifetime product(μτ),making it as a highly promising candidate for X-ray detection application.However,the presence of larger FA^(+)cation induces to an expansion of the Pb-I octahedral framework,which unfortunately affects both the stability and charge carrier mobility of the corresponding devices.To address this challenge,we develop a novel low-dimensional(HtrzT)PbI_(3) perovskite featuring a conjugated organic cation(1H-1,2,4-Triazole-3-thiol,HtrzT^(+))which matches well with theα-FAPbI_(3) lattices in two-dimensional plane.Benefiting from the matched lattice between(HtrzT)PbI_(3) andα-FAPbI_(3),the anchored lattice enhances the Pb-I bond strength and effectively mitigates the inherent tensile strain of theα-FAPbI_(3) crystal lattice.The X-ray detector based on(HtrzT)PbI_(3)(1.0)/FAPbI_(3) device achieves a remarkable sensitivity up to 1.83×10^(5)μC Gy_(air)^(−1) cm^(−2),along with a low detection limit of 27.6 nGy_(air) s^(−1),attributed to the release of residual stress,and the enhancement in carrier mobility-lifetime product.Furthermore,the detector exhibits outstanding stability under X-ray irradiation with tolerating doses equivalent to nearly 1.17×10^(6) chest imaging doses.
基金supported by the NSFC under Grant No.62474169the National Key Research and Development Program of China under Grant No.2024YFB3212200the funding from USTC under Grant Nos.WK2100000025,KY2190000003,and KY2190000006。
文摘Soft X-ray detectors play a vital role in materials science,high-energy physics and medical imaging.Cs_(2)AgBiBr_(6),a lead-free double perovskite,has gained attention for its excellent optoelectronic properties,stability,and nontoxicity.However,its fast crystallization and requirement for high-temperature annealing(>250℃)often lead to inferior film quality,limiting its application in flexible devices.This study introduces an alloying strategy that significantly improves the quality of Cs_(2)AgBiBr_(6)thin films annealed at a reduced temperature of 150℃.Devices based on the alloyed thin films exhibit an ultra-low dark current of 0.32 nA·cm^(-2)and a quantum efficiency of 725%.Furthermore,the first successful integration of Cs_(2)AgBiBr_(6)with a thinfilm transistor backplane demonstrates its superior imaging performance,indicating that Cs_(2)AgBiBr_(6)is a promising material for next-generation soft X-ray sensors.
基金Supported by the State Key Project for Fundamental Research(2012CB825801)National Natural Science Foundation of China(11475170,11205157 and 11179004)Anhui Provincial Natural Science Foundation(1508085MA20)
文摘Since the invention of Zernike phase contrast method in 1930,it has been widely used in optical microscopy and more recently in X-ray microscopy.Considering the image contrast is a mixture of absorption and phase information,we recently have proposed and demonstrated a method for quantitative phase retrieval in Zernike phase contrast X-ray microscopy.In this contribution,we analyze the performance of this method at different photon energies.Intensity images of PMMA samples are simulated at 2.5 keV and 6.2 keV,respectively,and phase retrieval is performed using the proposed method.The results demonstrate that the proposed phase retrieval method is applicable over a wide energy range.For weakly absorbing features,the optimal photon energy is 2.5 keV,from the point of view of image contrast and accuracy of phase retrieval.On the other hand,in the case of strong absorption objects,a higher photon energy is preferred to reduce the error of phase retrieval.These results can be used as guidelines to perform quantitative phase retrieval in Zernike phase contrast X-ray microscopy with the proposed method.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.41072006,40772008)the Research Fund for Doctoral Program of High Education(Grant No.20060001059)State Key Laboratory of Paleobiology,and Stratigraphy,Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology,Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.103102)
文摘In the light of Synchrotron Radiation X-ray Tomographic Microscopy （SRXTM）, the internal structure of Markuelia hunanensis is revealed. In one example, vitrification and peeling show the annuli hidden under the chorion. Sectioning and 3-D reconstruction display an intact digestive tract from the inverted introvert to the terminal anus. The inverted introvert forms a rugby cavum. The following digestive tract is rope-like coiling, parallel to the body axis, about 650 μm in length, and uniform in diameter （-80 μm）. An exquisitely preserved pipe-like structure is hidden in the middle of the rope-like structure, diameter 20--40 lam, with a length of -120 μm. We interpret this pipe-like structure as the possible epidermis of the gut and its surroundings as the possible residue of musculature, similar to that in Priapulans. The two symmetrical rod-shape structures connecting the body wall and digestive tract are interpreted as the possible retractor muscles. After comparing the well preserved Left-form and Right-form Body of Markuelia, we suggest that they may represent a dimorphism. Counted directly, one sample of Markuelia hunanensis possesses 62 annulations and the other 68.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.51501059,51471067,51501060,and 11427806)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2016YFB0300801)
文摘By Using （scanning） transmission electron microscopy, localized-corrosion morphology variations of the AA7055 AIZn（Cu）Mg alloy with different thermal processes and their underlying microscopic causes were investigated systematically. Our study shows that the corrosion resistance of the nanoscale precipitates varies with their structure type and Cu-content. Just like the Al-matrix, the early-stage precipitates are corrosion resistant, as compared with the ηp/η-precipitates without high Cu-content. With a high Cu-content, however, the η-precipitates become most corrosion resistant among all phases involved. Hence, tailoring the precipitate microstructure and chemistry though thermal processes may change the overall corrosion morphology and improve corrosion resistance property of the alloy.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China （Grant No 60276026） and the Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Province, China （Grant No ZS031-A25-012-G）.
文摘Through the investigation of the sample surface and interface of 3, 4, 9, 10-perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride （PTCDA）/indium-tin-oxide （ITO） thin films using atomic force microscopy, it has been found that the surface is complanate, the growth is uniform and the defects cover basically the surface of ITO. Furthermore, the number of pinholes is small. The analysis of the sample surface and interface further verifies this result by using x-ray photoemission spectroscopy. At the same time, PTCDA is found to have the ability of restraining the diffusion of chemical constituents from ITO to the hole transport layer, which is beneficial to the improvement of the performance and the useful lifetime of the organic light emitting diodes （OLEDs）.
基金Supported by the Basic Scientific Fund for National Public Research Institutes of China(Nos.GY02-2011T10,2015P07)the Qingdao Talent Program(No.13-CX-20)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.31100567,41176061)the National Natural Science Foundation for Creative Groups(No.41521064)
文摘Detection of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria has largely been dependent on targeted gene sequencing technology or traditional cell cultivation, which usually takes from days to months to carry out. This clearly does not meet the requirements of analysis for time-sensitive samples and/or complicated environmental samples. Since energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry(EDS) can be used to simultaneously detect multiple elements in a sample, including sulfur, with minimal sample treatment, this technology was applied to detect sulfur-oxidizing bacteria using their high sulfur content within the cell. This article describes the application of scanning electron microscopy imaging coupled with EDS mapping for quick detection of sulfur oxidizers in contaminated environmental water samples, with minimal sample handling. Scanning electron microscopy imaging revealed the existence of dense granules within the bacterial cells, while EDS identified large amounts of sulfur within them. EDS mapping localized the sulfur to these granules. Subsequent 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that the bacteria detected in our samples belonged to the genus Chromatium, which are sulfur oxidizers. Thus, EDS mapping made it possible to identify sulfur oxidizers in environmental samples based on localized sulfur within their cells, within a short time(within 24 h of sampling). This technique has wide ranging applications for detection of sulfur bacteria in environmental water samples.
