From chlorophyll a towards bacteriochlorophyll a: Excited-state processes of modified pigments

By means of fluorescence spectroscopy and nonlinear absorption experiments, excited-state processes of the modified pigments [3-acetyl]-chlorophyll a, [31-OH]-bacteriochlorophyll a and [3-vinyl]-bacteriochlorophyll a were investigated and compared with those of chlorophyll a and bacteriochlorophyll a

Pigment–protein architecture in the light-harvesting antenna complexes of purple bacteria: does the crystal structure reflect the native pigment–protein arrangement?

AbstractStructural analysis of crystallized peripheral (LH2) and core antenna complexes (LH1) of purple bacteria has revealed circular aggregates of high rotational symmetry (C8, C9 and C16, respectively). Quantum-chemical calculations indicate that in particular the waterwheel-like arrangements of pigments should show characteristic structure-sensitive spectroscopic behavior in the near infrared absorption region. Laser-spectroscopic data obtained with non-crystallized, isolated LH2 of Rhodospirillum molischianum are in line with a highly symmetric (C8) circular aggregate, but deviations have been found for LH2 of Rhodobacter sphaeroides and Rhodopseudomonas acidophila. For both the latter, C-shaped incomplete circular aggregates (as seen only recently in electron micrographs of crystallized LH1–reaction center complexes) may be a suitable preliminary model

Setup of an 8 keV laboratory transmission x-ray microscope

This article presents a concept and the first results for the setup of an 8keV laboratory transmission x-ray microscope with a polycapillary optic as condenser at the BliX in Berlin. The incentive of building such a microscope is that the penetration depth for hard x-rays is much higher than in the soft x-ray range, e.g. The water window. Therefore, it is possible to investigate even dense materials such as metal compounds, bones or geological samples. The future aim is to achieve a spatial resolution better than 200 nm

Excitated state properties of 20-chloro-chlorophyll a

The excited-state and lasing properties of 20-chloro-chlorophyll a in ether solution were compared to those of chlorophyll a. Desactivation parameters and cross-sections were obtained from non-linear absorption spectroscopy in combination with a physico-mathematical methods package. The Cl substituent at C-20 (1) increases both intersystem crossing and internal conversion, (2) produces a blue-shift of the S1 absorption spectrum, and (3) leads to pronounced photochemistry

A compact laboratory transmission X-ray microscope for the water window

In the water window (2.2-4.4 nm) the attenuation of radiation in water is significantly smaller than in organic material. Therefore, intact biological specimen (e.g. cells) can be investigated in their natural environment. In order to make this technique accessible to users in a laboratory environment a Full-Field Laboratory Transmission X-ray Microscope (L-TXM) has been developed. The L-TXM is operated with a nitrogen laser plasma source employing an InnoSlab high power laser system for plasma generation. For microscopy the Ly α emission of highly ionized nitrogen at 2.48 nm is used. A laser plasma brightness of 5 × 1011 photons/(s × sr × μm2 in line at 2.48 nm) at a laser power of 70 W is demonstrated. In combination with a state-of-the-art Cr/V multilayer condenser mirror the sample is illuminated with 106 photons/(μm2 × s). Using objective zone plates 35-40 nm lines can be resolved with exposure times < 60 s. The exposure time can be further reduced to 20 s by the use of new multilayer condenser optics and operating the laser at its full power of 130 W. These exposure times enable cryo tomography in a laboratory environment

Setup of an 8 keV laboratory transmission x-ray microscope

This article presents a concept and the first results for the setup of an 8keV laboratory transmission x-ray microscope with a polycapillary optic as condenser at the BliX in Berlin. The incentive of building such a microscope is that the penetration depth for hard x-rays is much higher than in the soft x-ray range, e.g. the water window. Therefore, it is possible to investigate even dense materials such as metal compounds, bones or geological samples. The future aim is to achieve a spatial resolution better than 200 nm

X ray Fourier transform holography with beam shaping optical elements

Holography is a powerful method for achieving 3D images of objects. Extending this method to short wavelengths potentially offers significantly higher resolution than visible light holography. However, current X ray holography setups employ nanoscale pinholes to form the reference wave. This approach is relatively inefficient and limited to very small sample size. Here, we propose a new setup for X ray holography based on a binary diffractive optical element DOE , which forms at the same time the object illumination and the reference wave. This optic is located separately from the sample plane, which permits investigation of larger sample areas. Using an extended test sample, we demonstrate a resolution of 90 nm half pitch at an undulator beamline at BESSY II. The new holography setup can be directly transferred to free electron laser sources enabling time resolved nanoscale imaging for ultra fast processe