SSRL School on Synchrotron X-ray Spectroscopy Techniques in Environmental and Materials Sciences: Theory and Application

June 2-5, 2009

Group photo of the attendees at the SSRL School on X-ray Spectropscopy Techniques in Environmental and Materials Sciences: Theory and Application held June 2-5, 2009 at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource.

» View photos from XAS 2009

Overview: Modern synchrotron radiation based X-ray absorption spectroscopy (SR-XAS) techniques offer the ability to probe local molecular scale physical and electronic structures that govern key properties of technological and environmental materials and molecular complexes. The high collimation, intensity, and tunability of SR allow the investigation of a wide range of materials, including thin films and interfaces, nanoparticles, amorphous materials, solutions, hydrated and disordered bacteriogenic minerals, soils, interfaces, and dissolved species.

Good planning and a working knowledge of beam lines, in addition to techniques, are keys to conducting successful SR-XAS measurements. This fourth annual school on SR techniques will provide a practical users' guide to planning and conducting XAS/EXAFS measurements at SSRL beam lines. The school will cover important basics such as basic beam line setup and optimization for fluorescence and transmission spectroscopy, as well as advanced techniques including polarized single-crystal EXAFS, grazing incidence XAS, and microprobe XAS.

We will cover topics that are not commonly addressed in text books or class lectures, but are obtained only through on-the-experiment training. Tips on sample preparation, data collection, processing and analysis will be included. The first day of the school (June 2) will be a lecture day, followed by one practical day with full hands-on experience at SSRL beam lines (June 3). The final two days will be dedicated to data analysis and discussion (June 4, 5).

Registration is limited, so please register early. Cost will be $100.

Organizers: Sam Webb, John Bargar, Mike Toney, and Apurva Mehta