Diffraction applications using the energy dispersive beamline X6A at the National Synchrotron Light Source

The energy dispersive beamline X6A at the National Synchrotron Light Source employs a curved crystal monochromator (polychromator) which focuses a range (∼1 keV) of x-ray energies into a narrow (100--120 μm) line image. Although this beamline was constructed primarily for time-dependent EXAFS experiments, we have begun to explore the use of this instrument for energy dispersive diffraction experiments with different types of sample including macromolecular crystals. The tunability (E=6.5 to 21 keV) and flexibility (ΔE=100--1000 eV) of the instrument makes the beamline ideal as a test bed for the application of polychromatic single-crystal diffraction techniques to different chemical or biological materials