At 250 metres in length, I13 is one of Diamond’s longest beamlines. It comprises two branchlines which provide complementary X-ray imaging techniques.
The branchlines run simultaneously and independently of one another. They support a broad range of scientific users from fields such as biology, materials science, geology, medicine, archaeology and engineering.
Coherence Branchline (I13-1)
Resolution beyond the limitations given by X-ray optics and scintillator-coupled detectors can be achieved with coherent diffraction imaging (CDI) methods. X-rays are diffracted by a sample, and the diffraction patterns are used to reconstruct an image via an iterative feedback algorithm which aims to retrieve the lost phase information. In effect, the objective lens of a typical microscope is replaced by software.
Such methods require highly coherent X-rays and can therefore not be conducted with conventional laboratory sources. The Coherence Branchline uses X-rays in the 6-20 keV range.