Single Particle Imaging

We have demonstrated single pulse diffractive imaging of substrate-free biomolecules with a soft X-ray free electron laser. Megadalton duplex DNA complexes electrosprayed from a sucrose-containing solution were injected into single FEL pulses. This work is the direct prelude to single biomolecule imaging with hard X-ray FELs. This work projects that single-pulse single-particle images will be collected at LCLS and the Euro XFEL without further advancement of the technology we reported. We have since used this technology to analyze live cells, nanoparticles, carbon nanofibers, flame- and powder-generated aerosols at FLASH.

References:

Bogan, M.; Benner, WH; Boutet, S.; Rohner, U.; Frank, M.; Barty, A.; Seibert, M. M.; Maia, F. R. N. C.; Marchesini, S.; Bajt, S.; Woods, B. W.; Riot, V.; Hau-Riege, S. P.; Marklund, E.; Spiller, E.; Svenda, M.; Hajdu, J.; Chapman, H. N., "Single particle X-ray diffractive imaging," Nano Letters, 2008, 8, 310-316

PULSE Research Nanoscale & Biomolecular Imaging • Publications • Scientific Staff