Synchrotron Radiation Induced X-Ray Fluorescence for the characterization of ancient gold objects

Due to their non-destructive character, X-ray analytical methods are widespread in the field of archaeometry. In the present study, the use of synchrotron radiation induced X-ray fluorescence analysis (SR-XRF) is illustrated on three examples: a silver point drawing of Jan van Eyck, the Hiddensee Gold Treasure, and the Sky Disc of Nebra. The possibility to analyse large objects in normal atmosphere results in information regarding their origin, uniformity, and the manufacturing process.Grâce à leur non-destructivité, les techniques analytiques qui utilisent les rayons X sont très répandues dans le domaine de l’archéométrie. L’utilisation de la fluorescence de rayons X induite par radiation de synchrotron (SR-XRF) est illustrée à partir de trois exemples : les dessins à pointe d’argent de Jan van Eyck, le trésor de Hiddensee et le disque céleste de Nebra. L’analyse d’objets, même de grandes tailles, à l’air permet d’obtenir des informations sur leur origine, leur homogénéité et leurs techniques de fabrication

Rectangular Beads from the Final Gravettian Level of the Abri Pataud: Raw Material Identification and its Archaeological Implications

The Final Gravettian level (level 2) of the abri Pataud (Dordogne, France) yielded a large assemblage of body ornaments that consists essentially of 85 quite standardized rectangular beads. Some uncertainty remained about the raw material in which these small beads were made: mammoth ivory, reindeer antler or bone? Non-invasive methods were employed in order to determine the raw material. First chemical analyses using microbeam Proton Induced X-ray Emission analysis (microPIXE) did not enable us to conclude definitively. Therefore, synchrotron and laboratory X-ray microtomography (microCT) were applied on eight beads and allowed us to identify ivory for all of them except for one, which shows slightly different morphological features.Le niveau 2 (Gravettien final) de l’abri Pataud (Dordogne, France) a livré un nombre important d’éléments de parure. L’essentiel (n : 85) correspond à des perles rectangulaires assez standardisées. Certaines incertitudes demeuraient sur leur matière première : ivoire de mammouth, bois de renne ou os ? Des méthodes non-invasives ont alors été employées pour déterminer la nature précise de celles-ci. Les analyses élémentaires par spectrométrie d’émission X induite par particules (PIXE) n’ayant pas été concluantes, la microtomographie de rayons X en laboratoire et au synchrotron a été utilisée sur huit perles et a permis d’identifier le matériau comme étant de l’ivoire, excepté pour l’une d’entre elles qui présente quelques légères différences de structure

Investigation of short range structural order in Zr69.5Cu12Ni11Al7.5 and Zr41.5Ti41.5Ni17 glasses, using X ray absorption spectroscopy and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations

Short-range order has been investigated in Zr69.5Cu12Ni11Al7.5and Zr41.5Ti41.5Ni17metallic glasses using X-ray absorption spectroscopy andab initiomolecular dynamics simulations. While both of these alloys are good glass formers, there is a difference in their glass-forming abilities (Zr41.5Ti41.5Ni17&gt; Zr69.5Cu12Ni11Al7.5). This difference is explained by inciting the relative importance of strong chemical order, icosahedral content, cluster symmetry and configuration diversity.</jats:p

In vitro synchrotron-based radiography of micro-gap formation at the implant–abutment interface of two-piece dental implants

Micro-radiography using hard X-ray synchrotron radiation is the first potential tool to allow an evaluation of the mechanical behavior of the dental implant–abutment complex during force application, thus enabling the enhancement of the design of dental implants which has been based on theoretical analysis to date

Going beyond histology. Synchrotron micro-computed tomography as a methodology for biological tissue characterization: from tissue morphology to individual cells

Current light microscopic methods such as serial sectioning, confocal microscopy or multiphoton microscopy are severely limited in their ability to analyse rather opaque biological structures in three dimensions, while electron optical methods offer either a good three-dimensional topographic visualization (scanning electron microscopy) or high-resolution imaging of very thin samples (transmission electron microscopy). However, sample preparation commonly results in a significant alteration and the destruction of the three-dimensional integrity of the specimen. Depending on the selected photon energy, the interaction between X-rays and biological matter provides semi-transparency of the specimen, allowing penetration of even large specimens. Based on the projection-slice theorem, angular projections can be used for tomographic imaging. This method is well developed in medical and materials science for structure sizes down to several micrometres and is considered as being non-destructive. Achieving a spatial and structural resolution that is sufficient for the imaging of cells inside biological tissues is difficult due to several experimental conditions. A major problem that cannot be resolved with conventional X-ray sources are the low differences in density and absorption contrast of cells and the surrounding tissue. Therefore, X-ray monochromatization coupled with a sufficiently high photon flux and coherent beam properties are key requirements and currently only possible with synchrotron-produced X-rays. In this study, we report on the three-dimensional morphological characterization of articular cartilage using synchrotron-generated X-rays demonstrating the spatial distribution of single cells inside the tissue and their quantification, while comparing our findings to conventional histological techniques