soft matter research – Lightsources.org

#SynchroLightAt75 – Grating interferometry and phase-contrast imaging

2022/12/212023/01/05

The development of X-ray phase-contrast imaging at Paul Scherrer Institute PSI tells a story of how basic research can quickly lead to practical applications. Grating interferometry was pioneered by PSI scientists as a technique for characterizing the X-ray wave front at synchrotron sources, such as the Swiss Light Source SLS. This development enhanced the quality of X-ray images. Soon after, it began to be used for phase-contrast imaging of soft matter-like tissue, and was subsequently brought to X-ray lab sources as well. Currently, it is under development for mammography with improved contrast for soft tissue and the micro-calcifications that are markers for benign and malignant tissue alterations.

Read more about this development via these links: Phase contrast improves mammography and Phase-contrast X-ray imaging for advanced breast cancer detection

Image: Marco Stampanoni pioneered the technique of phase-contrast X-ray imaging, which enables higher resolution mammograms that can help detect breast cancer earlier

Credit: Paul Scherrer Institute / Markus Fischer

ESRF appoints two new Directors of Research

2022/01/022022/01/04

Gema Martínez-Criado and Annalisa Pastore have been appointed new ESRF directors of research. Martínez-Criado will cover Condensed Matter and Physical and Material Sciences and Pastore Life Sciences, Chemistry and Soft Matter Science.

In its statement, the ESRF Council « unanimously approved the appointments, for a five-year period starting on 01 January 2022, of Dr Gema Martínez Criado, from the Spanish Research Council’s Materials Science Institute of Madrid, as Director of Research for Condensed Matter and Physical and Material Sciences, and of Professor Annalisa Pastore, from King’s College London University, as Director of Research for Life Sciences, Chemistry and Soft Matter Science. » The ESRF Council also « acknowledged the fact that both of these positions were being filled by female candidates of high calibre and expressed the full trust of the Council to continue to lead, in the coming year, the efforts required to fully capitalise on the world leading performances of the EBS storage ring and suite of beamlines.”

We all love science!

2021/12/302021/12/30

#LightSourceSelfie from users of the Australian Light Source

Marta Krasowska (Associate Professor), Sarah Otto (PhD Student) and Stephanie MacWilliams (Early Career Researcher) are scientists based at the University of South Australia. They share a passion for soft matter research and conduct experiments at ANSTO’s Australian Synchrotron. Their research questions relate to structural ordering in soft matter and its relevance in applications such as food, personal care products, biomaterials and pharmaceuticals.

In their #LightSourceSelfie, Marta, Sarah and Stephanie discuss what attracted them to this area of research, how they felt the first time they conducted experiments at the Australian Synchrotron, the support they receive from the team based at the facility, their top tips for surviving night shifts and how their research will benefit from the new BioSAX beamline, which is part of the synchrotron’s major upgrade. When it came to single words to describe their research, they agreed on “Challenging, unpredictable and super rewarding!”