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We have developed a next-generation scanning x-ray microscope RASMI (RApid Scanning Microscopy Instrument) for high-throughput tomographic imaging. RASMI is installed at the hard x-ray nanoprobe beamline at NSLS-II and is capable of manipulating 1D multilayer Laue lenses (MLLs) and 2D optics (both zone plates and monolithically assembled 2D MLLs). The sample scanning stage utilizes line-focusing interferometry as an encoder while performing fly-scanning data acquisition. The system can be configured for both position- and time-triggering modes during fly-scanning. The microscope demonstrated a detector-limited data acquisition rate of 1.25 kHz during ptychography measurements. The initial x-ray results yielded a sample-limited resolution of ∼6 nm in 2D. RASMI can be adopted for in-vacuum applications and is a foundation for the next-generation scanning microscopy systems to be developed and commissioned at NSLS-II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As spectral imaging techniques are becoming more prominent in science, advanced image segmentation algorithms are required to identify appropriate domains in these images. We present a version of image segmentation called manifold projection image segmentation (MPIS) that is generally applicable to a broad range of systems without the need for training because MPIS uses unsupervised machine learning with a few physically motivated hyperparameters. We apply MPIS to nanoscale x-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) imaging, where XANES spectra are collected with nanometer spatial resolution. We show the superiority of manifold projection over linear transformations, such as the commonly used principal component analysis (PCA). Moreover, MPIS maintains accuracy while reducing computation time and sensitivity to noise compared to the standard nano-XANES imaging analysis procedure. Finally, we demonstrate how multimodal information, such as x-ray fluorescence data and spatial location of pixels, can be incorporated into the MPIS framework. We propose that MPIS is adaptable for any spectral imaging technique, including scanning transmission x-ray microscopy, where the length scale of domains is larger than the resolution of the experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report our experiences with conducting ptychography simultaneously with the X-ray fluorescence measurement using the on-the-fly mode for efficient multi-modality imaging. We demonstrate that the periodic artifact inherent to the raster scan pattern can be mitigated using a sufficiently fine scan step size to provide an overlap ratio of >70%. This allows us to obtain transmitted phase contrast images with enhanced spatial resolution from ptychography while maintaining the fluorescence imaging with continuous-motion scans on pixelated grids. This capability will greatly improve the competence and throughput of scanning probe X-ray microscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have designed and constructed a compact nano-positioning system for a Portable Transmission X-ray Microscope (PTXM). We introduce a concept of PTXM and adopt modular approach which implements identical nano-motion platforms to perform manipulation of PTXM components. Modular design provides higher stiffness of the system and allows for reduction of relative thermal drifts between individual constituents of the PTXM apparatus, ensuring a high degree of stability for nanoscale x-ray imaging. We have measured relative thermal drifts between two identical modules to be as low as 15 nm/h, sufficient to perform nanoscale imaging by TXM. Spatial resolution achieved by developed linear piezo stages was measured to be 3 nm with repeatability of 20 nm over 1 mm travel range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors report a study of structural and chemical disorders in a ternary combinatorial epitaxial film of CoxMnyGe1-x-y in the composition range that includes the Heusler alloy Co2MnGe, using microbeam anomalous x-ray diffraction techniques. The structural and chemical ordering of the alloy has been found to be extremely stable over a large composition range, while elemental site swapping and sublattice vacancies have been identified. A model of anomalous diffraction around the Co and Ge edges is presented and shown to make possible the identification and quantification of these disorders in an epitaxial film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reduction-oxidation cycling of the nickel-based oxides in composite solid oxide fuel cells and battery electrodes is directly related to cell performance. A greater understanding of nickel redox mechanisms at the microstructural level can be achieved in part using transmission x-ray microscopy (TXM) to explore material oxidation states. X-ray nanotomography combined with x-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy has been applied to study samples containing distinct regions of nickel and nickel oxide (NiO) compositions. Digitally processed images obtained using TXM demonstrate the three-dimensional chemical mapping and microstructural distribution capabilities of full-field XANES nanotomography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used x-ray nanotomography to characterize the three-dimensional (3D) morphology and topology of dealloyed nanoporous gold after coarsening. The interface shape distribution obtained from the nanotomography measurement shows that the coarsening does not proceed by bulk diffusion. The surface normal distribution shows that the morphology of the nanoporous gold is anisotropic. The topology of nanoporous gold is similar to that of other bicontinuous structures created by phase separation, despite the radically different method used to produce the structures. This work opens the door to time-resolved, in situ studies of coarsening of nanoporous gold in 3D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A general method to map strain with parts per million (ppm) resolution in single-crystal wafers and plates is demonstrated. An x-ray technique has been used to obtain separate maps of strain and tilt across synthetic diamond growth sectors. Data consisting of rocking curve maps obtained with a charge coupled device detector were analyzed. The strain results image the growth sectors and reveal a strain pileup near the sector boundaries. The diamond was yellow to the eye due to nitrogen impurities. Not only the topography of the strain map, but also the strain magnitudes, are consistent with the strain arising from nitrogen impurities. High strain resolution in the ppm range is needed to observe these effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis and magnetic properties of (In1-xFex)2O3-σ bulk ceramics with Cu co-doping are reported. Magnetic Fe ions are found to have high thermodynamic solubility (up to 20%) in the In2O3 host compound. The lattice constant decreases almost linearly as Fe doping concentration increases indicating the incorporation of Fe ions into the host lattice. The samples with high Fe concentration annealed under Ar reduced atmosphere were found to be ferromagnetic, and the Curie temperature is around 750 K. The extensive structural and magnetic studies rule out the possibility that the observed magnetism is derived from magnetic impurity phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]