Institutional Partnerships

Program Details: National X-ray School

Scope

The Department of Energy (DOE), particularly through the Office of Science and Basic Energy Sciences, has taken a leading role in financing the construction and operation of large facilities producing X-rays. These facilities offer outstanding research capabilities in a wide variety of scientific fields. Thousands of scientists from universities, industries, and national laboratories use these facilities every year. Unfortunately, few education courses prepare young researchers to effectively use the complex and sophisticated instruments available at these facilities.

To address this need, the Advanced Photon Source (APS) is hosting the National X-ray School.

Lectures for the school cover a wide range of related subjects. The first week begins with a basic grounding in the interaction of x-rays and matter, and proceeds to detailed lectures on x-ray sources and instrumentation. The remainder of the lectures cover widely used x-ray scattering techniques, with an emphasis on both general theory and practical application. Students are also given hands on experience by conducting experiments at the APS.

Program

The program of the school focuses on the following areas:

  • The fundamentals of the interaction of x-rays with matter
  • X-ray production and experimental instrumentation
  • Theory and practical application of various x-ray experimental techniques
  • Hands on experience gained through experiments at the Advanced Photon Source (APS)

Lectures are given by prominent scientists drawn from universities, several national laboratories, and industries. Experiments are led by staff of beamlines at the APS. Topics for the lectures and experiments include:

  • Interactions of X-Rays with Matter
  • X-Ray Generation and Detection
  • X-Ray Instrumentation
  • Single-Crystal and Surface Diffraction
  • Powder Diffraction
  • Inelastic Scattering
  • Reflectivity
  • Magnetic Scattering
  • EXAFS
  • Small Angle Scattering
  • Diffuse Scattering
  • Resonant Inelastic X-Ray Scattering
  • Coherent X-Ray Scattering
  • Amorphous Scattering
  • X-ray Imaging and Microscopy Techniques
  • Advanced Spectroscopy Techniques