Make a small community larger – new LINXS webinar series on coherent X-rays

A new LINXS webinar series aims to make the community of researchers using techniques based on coherent x-rays larger and more diverse. It is organised under the Imaging theme.

 – We want to encourage more researchers to explore these techniques and tease out how we can broaden the scope of advanced material characterisation, says organiser Gerardina Carbone, beamline scientist at MAX IV, and member of the Working Group: New opportunities in Imaging with x-rays and neutrons.

The webinar series focuses on the exploitation of the coherence properties of x-rays for advanced materials characterisation, with a special focus on inverse microscopy techniques, such as coherent diffraction imaging -CDI, ptychography and holography. These approaches can be used to analyse different types of materials, from biological materials and cells all the way to crystals, passing through diverse materials for applications such as cement, batteries and catalytic nanostructures, to cite a few.

 – An easy way to explain it, is that the use of coherent x-ray data establishes a clear mathematical relation between sample and diffracted data. This can be enforced within a "phasing" algorithm to recover a complete sample description only from the data, with no other assumptions.

The first three webinars in the series have already taken place. Gerardina Carbone says that the overall idea behind the initiative is to increase the community of researchers using coherent x-rays and bring in more discussion of how to expand its uses into new fields.

 – Because of limited access to coherent x-ray sources in the past years, the community using coherence has been quite small up to now. At first, we wanted to organise a workshop, to allow people to meet and discuss in person, but because of the pandemic we had to settle on the webinar approach.

Another aim of the webinar series is to link researchers from various fields, including people that are experienced and people who are just curious to learn more about coherence, and to really focus on transfer of knowledge in an interactive way. Therefore, the webinar series also welcomes more open talks, where people bring ideas for topics that could be explored with coherence.

 – Of course the webinar format can be quite challenging but we hope to develop ways to exchange ideas and encourage discussions. We aim for shorter contributions with a longer discussion on how to make the experiments. That is the important goal – to have these discussions.

Highlight practical aspects and limitations

The webinars will also have a strong focus on “how to make the experiments”. Since the field is still developing, Gerardina Carbone emphasises that it is important to show, not just tell. One aspect is to discuss practical aspects such as writing beamtime proposals, and how to prepare samples so that researchers are prepared ahead of the experiments.

 – Often it is not that complicated. The samples might need to be cut or placed on a tip to be firmly held, or placed on a membrane. One just needs to keep this in mind before the measurements begin.

Another thing is to make sure to highlight who to contact in order to make an experiment, and what to ask them: what do you really need to know before you start?

 – We want to help people who have never done this before. We hope that this type of approach will give a bit more practical information than just reading a scientific paper.

Early career researchers to the take lead

Many of the webinars will be presented by early career researchers as opposed to established experts. Gerardina Carbone explains that with more time to plan the schedule, she aimed to look beyond just contacting people who are already ahead in their research career.

 – To really open the field, you also have to make the actual format more inclusive. You cannot always rotate around the same big names, and in fact many experts gladly pushed for their younger colleagues to take part.

More webinars to follow

Finally, Gerardina Carbone highlights that this series might be one of more to come. She sees a development where one could focus on other topics and perspectives related to the exploitation of coherent x-rays.

 – This webinar is just the start, she concludes!

Read more about the webinar series Inversion of coherent x-ray data cowork

Gerardina Carbone. Researcher at MAX IV Laboratory.