Adam P. Hitchcock

Interferometer-controlled scanning transmission X-ray microscopes at the Advanced Light Source

Two new soft X-ray scanning transmission microscopes located at the Advanced Light Source (ALS) have been designed, built and commissioned. Interferometer control implemented in both microscopes allows the precise measurement of the transverse position of the zone plate relative to the sample. Long-term positional stability and compensation for transverse displacement during translations of the zone plate have been achieved. The interferometer also provides low-distortion orthogonal x, y imaging. Two different control systems have been developed: a digital control system using standard VXI components at beamline 7.0, and a custom feedback system based on PC AT boards at beamline 5.3.2. Both microscopes are diffraction limited with the resolution set by the quality of the zone plates. Periodic features with 30 nm half period can be resolved with a zone plate that has a 40 nm outermost zone width. One microscope is operating at an undulator beamline (7.0), while the other is operating at a novel dedicated bending-magnet beamline (5.3.2), which is designed specifically to illuminate the microscope. The undulator beamline provides count rates of the order of tens of MHz at high-energy resolution with photon energies of up to about 1000 eV. Although the brightness of a bending-magnet source is about four orders of magnitude smaller than that of an undulator source, photon statistics limited operation with intensities in excess of 3 MHz has been achieved at high energy resolution and high spatial resolution. The design and performance of these microscopes are described.

Resonances in the K shell excitation spectra of benzene and pyridine: Gas phase, solid, and chemisorbed states

K shell excitation spectra of the aromatic molecules benzene and pyridine in the gas phase are compared to those for the solids (ices) and for monolayers chemisorbed on Pt(111). The gas phase and solid spectra are essentially identical and even the spectra for the chemisorbed molecules exhibit the same resonances. Because of the orientation of the molecules upon chemisorption the latter spectra show a strong polarization dependence as a function of x‐ray incidence. This polarization dependence in conjunction with a multiple scattering Xα calculation for the benzene molecule allows us to assign the origin of all K shell resonances. The resonances are found to arise from transitions to π* antibonding orbitals and to σ* shape resonances in the continuum. The shape resonances are characterized by potential barriers in high (l=5 and 6) angular momentum states of the excited photoelectron. The polarization dependence and energy position of the resonances allow the molecular orientation on the surface to be dete...

Determination of intramolecular bond lengths in gas phase molecules from K shell shape resonances

A systematic analysis of K shell excitation spectra of gas phase molecules containing B, C, N, O, and F reveals a correlation between the position of a characteristic K shell excitation feature, the σ shape resonance, and the intramolecular bond length. When referenced to the 1s ionization threshold the position of the σ shape resonance is found to vary linearly with the internuclear distance between the pair of atoms which gives rise to the scattering resonance. This linear relationship holds remarkably well within different classes of molecules characterized by the total number of electrons (sum of atomic numbers) for a given pair of atoms. The empirically derived rules are compared with the predictions of a full multiple scattering theory treatment. Comparison of empirical experimental and first‐principle theoretical results allows the prediction of the average intramolecular muffin tin potential in the presence of the core hole.

K-shell excitation spectra of CO, N2 and O2

Electron energy loss spectra of CO, N2 and O2 have been recorded in the regions of carbon, nitrogen and oxygen K-shell excitation and ionisation. These results are compared to previous energy loss, photoabsorption and theoretical studies of the same spectral regions. Several inconsistencies in the published spectra are clarified in the present work. Comparisons with recent calculations of the K-shell continua of these molecules are presented. Vibrational structure in the K → π * transitions of CO (C 1s) and N2 (N 1s) has been resolved in high-resolution studies (< 0.1 eV FWHM) of these species.

Carbon K-shell excitation of C2H2, C2H4, C2H6 and C6H6 by 2.5 keV electron impact

Abstract Energy loss spectra of 2.5 keV electrons in the region of the carbon K -edge in C 2 H 2 , C 2 H 4 , C 2 H 6 and C 6 H 6 are report

Advanced imaging techniques for assessment of structure, composition and function in biofilm systems

Scientific imaging represents an important and accepted research tool for the analysis and understanding of complex natural systems. Apart from traditional microscopic techniques such as light and electron microscopy, new advanced techniques have been established including laser scanning microscopy (LSM), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM). These new techniques allow in situ analysis of the structure, composition, processes and dynamics of microbial communities. The three techniques open up quantitative analytical imaging possibilities that were, until a few years ago, impossible. The microscopic techniques represent powerful tools for examination of mixed environmental microbial communities usually encountered in the form of aggregates and films. As a consequence, LSM, MRI and STXM are being used in order to study complex microbial biofilm systems. This mini review provides a short outline of the more recent applications with the intention to stimulate new research and imaging approaches in microbiology.

Inner shell excitation of thiophene and thiolane: Gas, solid, and monolayer states

The electron energy loss spectra of gaseous thiophene and thiolane in the regions of S 2p, S 2s, and C 1s are presented along with the x‐ray photoelectron yield (NEXAFS) spectra of both gases in the region of S 1s excitation. The thiophene spectra are compared to the corresponding NEXAFS spectra of solid (multilayer) and monolayer thiophene on Pt (111). MS‐Xα calculations of the C 1s, S 2p, and S 1s excitation spectra of free thiophene are also reported. Intercomparison of the gas, surface, and calculated spectra allows a complete interpretation of the spectral features and facilitates determination of the molecular orientation of thiophene with respect to the surface in both the compressed [thiophene on Pt (111) at 150 K] and relaxed [thiophene on Pt (111) at 180 K] monolayer phases.

Carbon K-shell electron energy loss spectra of 1- and 2-butenes, trans-1,3-butadiene, and perfluoro-2-butene. Carbon--carbon bond lengths from continuum shape resonances

Electron energy loss spectra of 1‐butene, cis‐2‐butene, trans‐2‐butene, trans‐1,3‐butadiene, and perfluoro‐2‐butene in the region of carbon K‐shell (C 1s) excitation and ionization have been recorded under dipole‐dominated inelastic electron scattering conditions. The features observed below the C 1s I.P. in the spectra of the butenes and butadiene are assigned to promotions of C 1s electrons to unoccupied valence (π*) and Rydberg orbitals while broad features observed above the edge are assigned to σ(C–C) and σ(C–C) shape resonances. These spectra, along with carbon K‐shell spectra of other hydrocarbons, are used to demonstrate that there is a quantitative relationship between carbon–carbon bond lengths and the location of σ shape resonances relative to the C 1s ionization threshold (I.P.). The C 1s spectrum of perfluoro‐2‐butene demonstrates dramatic potential barrier effects, namely suppression of Rydberg transitions and strong enhancement of σ(C–C) and σ(C–F) shape resonances in the region of the C 1s...

Carbon K‐shell excitation of gaseous and condensed cyclic hydrocarbons: C3H6, C4H8, C5H8, C5H10, C6H10, C6H12, and C8H8

The carbon K‐shell excitation spectra of gaseous cyclic hydrocarbons, both saturated (cyclopropane, cyclobutane, cyclopentane, cyclohexane) and unsaturated (cyclopentene, cyclohexene, and cyclooctatetraene), have been recorded by electron energy loss spectroscopy under dipole‐dominated conditions. These are compared to the NEXAFS spectra of multilayers and monolayers of C4H8, C5H8, C6H12, and C8H8 on Pt(111). Multiple scattering Xα calculations of the spectra of cyclopropane, cyclobutane, and cyclohexane are also reported. In most cases the gas and solid spectra are essentially the same indicating that intramolecular transitions dominate in the condensed phase. The NEXAFS polarization dependence of the condensed phases has assisted spectral assignments and the determination of the molecular orientation in the monolayer phase. In the saturated species a sharp feature about 3 eV below the carbon 1s ionization threshold is identified as a transition to a state of mixed Rydberg/valence character with the π*(C...

Carbon K-shell excitation spectra of linear and branched alkanes

The electron energy loss spectra of ethane, propane, n-butane, n-pentane, n-hexane, isobutane, isopentane and neopentane in the region of carbon K-shell excitation have been recorded under dipole-dominated conditions (2.8 ke V impact energy, small angle). The spectra are dominated by transitions to unoccupied valence π∗(CH2, CH3) and σ∗(C-C) levels. Additional weak features are assigned to Rydberg transitions. The position of the main continuum feature in each spectrum is consistent with the predictions of an empirical relationship with bond length. Systematic variations of spectral intensities are observed which support our assignments. The dominant feature in the K-shell spectrum of ethane, which was previously assigned to C 1s → 3p Rydberg transitions, is reassigned to excitation to a 3p/π∗(CH3 ), mixed Rydberg/valence orbital (of antibonding σ-∗(C-H) character), in comparison to the other alkane spectra. An improved calibration value of 290.74(5) eV for the energy of the C 1s → π∗ transition in CO2 is also obtained.