Project: Microscope X In-vitro
The last few years have witnessed important technical developments in the X-ray field that have inspired a renaissance in X-ray microscopy. The availability of synchrotron radiation sources, the development and continuous improvement of high-resolution zone plates, efficient multilayer reflectors, and high-resolution X-ray detectors have all contributed to renewed interest. Soft X-ray microscopy has been developed and demonstrated by many groups around the world though most of them use synchrotron radiation sources to image their specimens. Although synchrotron radiation is a powerful source it is not necessarily convenient for routine work because the machine time is severely limited and the cost is very high. A soft X-ray microscope on a laboratory scale would overcome these problems. Therefore the development of McXI (MiCroscope X In vitro) - a compact soft X-ray microscope would make it possible to place the instrument in the laboratory of, for example, the biologist or materials scientist or environmental scientist. _x000D__x000D_The goal of the project is to gather together a group of Ps with complementary skills to develop a tabletop automated solution for an in-vitro microscope in the end user’s laboratory, with improvements on brightness, source size, ergonomics, automation and compactness. One virtue of soft X-ray microscopy is its ability to study single cells in their entirety, rather than being limited to slices of samples with thicknesses of 400nm or less, as is the case in electron imaging of frozen hydrated specimens. Soft X-ray microscopes operating in the water window spectral region (2.3-4.4nm) between the Carbon and Oxygen K-absorption edges offer especially favourable contrast mechanisms for studies of hydrated specimens of up to 10µm thickness. In the water window, water is relatively transparent and organic material can be viewed with good contrast. Examples of applications: _x000D_§ A major aspect in understanding pollution is the study of the transport mechanisms through soils, since a great variety of chemical reactions within soil systems occur in an aqueous phase. Having the ability to image specimens directly in their aqueous environment, a soft X-ray microscope is a very suitable instrument for these studies. _x000D_§ Being able to perform in-vitro imaging would provide quicker understanding and response for medical science and research, which in essence would save research time and decrease investment cost. Areas such as oncology, haematology, virology and autoimmune illnesses would benefit immensely from this scheme. _x000D__x000D_For these reasons we will operate in the water window region, which will enable us to study many organisms such as: stem cells, malaria infected blood cells, mitochondria and chromosomes to name just a few. McXI would not only appeal to biologists but also would have a broad range of applications to important scientific problems in the environmental, materials and technological sciences. _x000D__x000D_This project collects together an expert team, with complementary skills in diverse areas that need to be addressed to meet the challenge. The skills required extend over the range of mechatronics, optics, manufacturing of special membranes, vacuum instrumentation and radiation sources. One of the Ps, NANO-UV, is already involved in some sub-parts for the mark 1 model of the soft X-ray microscope. Silson are providing zone plates and special membranes, which act to protect the optical components of the microscope from any unwanted debris and also as filters for irradiation coming from the UV source onto the sample and imaging detector. Delong Instruments provides expertise in vacuum and mechatronics, and is currently offering a small, highly innovative e-beam microscope to the market. They have developed a vacuum positioning system on a commercial platform in their low voltage electron microscope that will be used and implemented in the McXI project. NANO-UV, the project team leader, is currently offering a unique UV source to the metrology EUV market. Based on a discharge plasma with an in-built plasma photons collector, this combination provides a very bright source with small divergence, and a flux comparable to that of a synchrotron beam line at specific wavelengths, but in a package weighing less than 5kg. The source, which uses a rare gas mixture has a long-term lifetime operation, is 47 cm in length and can be easily integrated to a tabletop solution.
| Acronym | McXI (Reference Number: 4885) |
| Duration | 04/05/2009 - 29/04/2011 |
| Project Topic | The McXI project is to deliver the first stand-alone soft X-ray microscope for in-vitro studies at cellular level. It will offer 20nm resolution, x20,000 magnification, automated system and 3-D in-vitro imaging in the water window region. |
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Project Results (after finalisation) |
The aim of the McXI project was to deliver a stand-alone soft X-ray microscope for in-vitro studies at cellular level. _x000D_A particular task for DELONG INSTRUMENTS (thereinafter as DI) was:_x000D_- to design an exceptionally mechanically stable microscope platform_x000D_- to provide mechanical and electronic solutions (“mechatronics”) to allow the use of diffractive and reflective optics in the McXI_x000D_- to design and construct mechanical structure and suitable positioning systems for individual optics and sample holder that would offer a stable environment for required image resolution_x000D__x000D_Throughout the two year period the following achievements have been realized:_x000D_1. Continuous source output optimization has been performed. The source was not developed for simple long-term operation in a fully automated environment and therefore work was focused on operating the source as a stable stand-alone automated tool._x000D_2. Performance estimation has been made on the magnification, exposure time and the minimum dose required to avoid radiation damage on the sample._x000D_3. A component assessment of the microscope apparatus, including the optical design of the zone plates, the mechanical design of the internal components of the chamber, the external design of the microscope, the vacuum design and the design of the alignment system has been carried out and thoroughly discussed among the Ps._x000D_DI was fully participating on this process._x000D_4. A prototype system in a horizontal configuration was designed and implemented._x000D_After the optics setup–allignment configuration (par. 3.) DI designed and manufactured complete set of optics components._x000D_5. Source integration and automation has commenced._x000D_6. Zone plate : Silson delivered their first micro zone plate of 100nm resolution which been tested in the McXI I system._x000D_7. Optical system : Alignment of the optics system was successfully obtained and proven. _x000D_8. Compact system : The McXI I prototype was designed and manufactured for operation in a horizontal configuration. To get a compact system, McXI II was carefully considered and redesigned to function in a vertical orientation thereby yielding it a more compact system. This includes the mechanical design of the internal components of the chamber, the external design of the microscope, the external optical system and the vacuum design. This has been implemented and installed in the NANO-UV facilities._x000D_DI were responsible for carrying out the design and manufacturing of the external and internal mechanical components of McXI as well as for driving electronics and corresponding software control. DI participated also at McXI II installation in NANO-UV laboratories._x000D_9. Vibration - is one of the major issues in acquiring a high-resolution image. To alleviate it the entire system was built on an anti-vibration table, and the mechatronic components were automated externally by shielded microelectronics. The sample holder was designed (DI) as a load lock system where exchange of samples are fast and simple. The source was designed so that it acquired a lightweight property as this leads to a high self-resonance frequency of the mechanical structure enabling relatively simple design of anti-vibration mounting._x000D_10. Octupole Correctors : Alignment octupole coils have been designed by DI and tested on the NANO-UV source. The aim of these coils was to automate the alignment of the X-ray beam. _x000D_11. Stand-alone operating system: to reach this form, work was carried out on: system integration, source automation, industrialization, pulse driver optimization, fuel gas distribution automation, component life time optimization, thermal.... management, control interface, environmental monitoring and simple sample exchange._x000D__x000D_In summary the microscope with 100nm resolution is an attractive instrument for scientific research due to its compact and innovative design, which will be enhanced further by offering improved resolutions as zone plate fabrication milestones continue to be achieved. |
| Network | Eurostars |
| Call | Eurostars Cut-Off 2 |
Project partner
| Number | Name | Role | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | DELONG INSTRUMENTS a.s. | Partner | Czech Republic |
| 3 | NANO-UV | Coordinator | France |
| 3 | Silson Limited | Partner | United Kingdom |