Crystals in a Pink X-Ray Beam (IMAGE)

Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY

Crystals in a Pink X-Ray Beam

Caption

A newly developed set-up tremendously reduces background scattering in X-ray structure analysis of biomolecules like proteins at synchrotron X-ray sources. Scattering often hampers high resolution structure determinations. To achieve this, the X-ray beam (highlighted in pink) is enclosed in thin metal capillaries shortly before and behind the sample and the air immediately surrounding the sample is replaced by a stream of helium gas.

Credit

Credit: DESY, Julian Bergtholdt

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