A laboratory-based double X-ray spectrometer for simultaneous X-ray emission and X-ray absorption studies

X-ray spectroscopy studies are usually performed using synchrotron radiation sources, which offer bright, coherent, energy-tuneable and monochromatic light. However, the application of synchrotron-based Xray emission spectroscopy (XES) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is directly constrained by the limited, infrequent access to central facilities. With the advent of new technological solutions in the field of X-ray sources, optics and detectors, the development of efficient and compact laboratory X-ray spectroscopy systems is possible. A permanent laboratory-based setup offers the advantages of low cost and easy accessibility and, therefore, more flexibility in the preparation and scheduling of measurements. Herein, we report a laboratory X-ray setup allowing simultaneous XES and XAS measurements. The double von Hamos spectrometer performances are demonstrated by concurrent K beta XES and K-edge XAS measurements done for 3d elements

Implementation of a crossed-slit system for fast alignment of sealed polycapillary X-ray optics

A new modification of a table-Top laser-driven water-jet plasma X-ray source has been successfully implemented and commissioned at the Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI) Beamlines user facility. In order to preserve the broadband nature of the source for spectroscopic experiments, a polycapillary lens was initially chosen as the focusing element. Generally, polycapillary X-ray optics have a narrow photon acceptance angle and small field of view, making alignment complicated and time-consuming. This contribution demonstrates a straightforward, reliable and reproducible procedure for aligning polycapillary focusing optics with broadband X-rays. The method involves a pre-Alignment step where two X-ray slits are mounted orthogonally on opposite sides of a 3D-printed cylindrical polycapillary holder. This helps to precisely determine the optical axis of the X-ray beam. Subsequent mounting of the polycapillary in the pre-Aligned holder with the slits removed allowed for immediate transmission of the X-ray photons through the optics and has provided a good starting point for fine alignment

Boosting the Performance of Nano-Ni Catalysts by Palladium Doping in Flow Hydrogenation of Sulcatone

The effect of Pd doping on nano-Ni catalyst hydrogenation aptitude in sulcatone (6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one) hydrogenation was investigated. Obtained results demonstrated that the addition of non-catalytic amounts of Pd to the surface of parent Ni catalyst improves the activity to the extent that it surpassed the activity of 2.16 wt% Pd catalyst (model catalyst) at optimal reaction conditions in the flow hydrogenation of an unsaturated ketone. Pd doping improves hydrogen activation on the catalyst, which was found to be a rate-limiting step using kinetic isotopic measurements and theoretical calculations

Approaching the Attosecond Frontier of Dynamics in Matter with the Concept of X-ray Chronoscopy

Featured Application Herein, an innovative methodology, called X-ray chronoscopy, is proposed for exploration of ultrafast processes in matter with attosecond precision using current XFEL sources. The method is based on measuring the change in an X-ray pulse temporal profile induced by interaction with a medium. X-ray free electron lasers (XFELs) have provided scientists opportunities to study matter with unprecedented temporal and spatial resolutions. However, access to the attosecond domain (i.e., below 1 femtosecond) remains elusive. Herein, a time-dependent experimental concept is theorized, allowing us to track ultrafast processes in matter with sub-fs resolution. The proposed X-ray chronoscopy approach exploits the state-of-the-art developments in terahertz streaking to measure the time structure of X-ray pulses with ultrahigh temporal resolution. The sub-femtosecond dynamics of the saturable X-ray absorption process is simulated. The employed rate equation model confirms that the X-ray-induced mechanisms leading to X-ray transparency can be probed via measurement of an X-ray pulse time structure.QC 20220315</p

Core-level nonlinear spectroscopy triggered by stochastic X-ray pulses

Stochastic processes are highly relevant in research fields as different as neuroscience, economy, ecology, chemistry, and fundamental physics. However, due to their intrinsic unpredictability, stochastic mechanisms are very challenging for any kind of investigations and practical applications. Here we report the deliberate use of stochastic X-ray pulses in two-dimensional spectroscopy to the simultaneous mapping of unoccupied and occupied electronic states of atoms in a regime where the opacity and transparency properties of matter are subject to the incident intensity and photon energy. A readily transferable matrix formalism is presented to extract the electronic states from a dataset measured with the monitored input from a stochastic excitation source. The presented formalism enables investigations of the response of the electronic structure to irradiation with intense X-ray pulses while the time structure of the incident pulses is preserved