X-ray fluorescence microtomography research at HASYLAB beamline L

Complete text of publication follows. An increasing number of analytical applications of X-Ray fluorescence microtomography have been published in the literature for determination 2D/3D distribution of elementary composition in micro sized biological and geological objects [1], [2], [3] related to environmental and toxicity problems. The Beamline L at DESY III (HASYLAB, Hamburg) offers optimal technique conditions for these special analyses: intensive synchrotron beam (energy is up to 70 keV), X-Ray optical elements, sample moving and rotation stages, CCD camera for radiography, SDD for detection of X-Ray spectra. In the last years a new set-up has been established: confocal X-ray-imaging and scanning X-ray fluorescence analysis on different biological samples in the X-ray energy range of 5 - 30 keV. The principal goal of these experiments is obtaining 2D/3D information on the distribution and chemical state of toxic and essential elements in 5-20 μm lateral resolution. For confocal X-ray imaging and XRF micro-tomography measurements xyz sample positioning system with 1 μm geometrical resolution is available coupled with a rotation stage. The software and computer system for control of full experimental procedures and recording the spectra are available at the beamline. The authors kindly acknowledge the financial support from EC contract No. RII3-CT-2004-506008 for project DESY-D-II-20060097.