Abstract
The success of diffraction experiments from weakly scattering samples strongly depends on achieving an optimal signal-to-noise ratio. This is particularly important in single-particle imaging experiments where diffraction signals are typically very weak and the experiments are often accompanied by significant background scattering. A simple way to tremendously reduce background scattering by placing an aperture downstream of the sample has been developed and its application in a single-particle X-ray imaging experiment at FLASH is demonstrated. Using the concept of a post-sample aperture it was possible to reduce the background scattering levels by two orders of magnitude.Diffraction experiments with weakly scattering samples often suffer from a low signal-to-noise ratio due to unwanted background scatter. Improving the signal-to-noise ratio for single-particle imaging experiments is particularly important as the diffraction signal is very weak. Here, a simple way to minimize the background scattering by placing an aperture downstream of the sample is demonstrated.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1296-1298 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Journal of synchrotron radiation |
Volume | 24 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 2017 |
Keywords
- X-ray diffraction
- aperture
- background scattering
- coherent diffractive imaging
- signal-to-noise ratio
- single-particle imaging
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Radiation
- Nuclear and High Energy Physics
- Instrumentation