An integrated environment for biological small-angle X-ray scattering (BioSAXS) at the high-brilliance P12 synchrotron beamline of the EMBL (DESY, Hamburg) allows for a broad range of solution scattering experiments. Automated hardware and software systems have been designed to ensure that data collection and processing are efficient, streamlined and user friendly.

Analyzer-based imaging is a powerful phase-sensitive technique that generates improved contrast compared to standard absorption radiography. Combining numerically two images taken on either side at ±1/2 of the full width at half-maximum (FWHM) of the rocking curve provides images of “pure refraction” and of “apparent absorption.” In this study, a similar approach is made by combining symmetrical images with respect to the peak of the analyzer rocking curve but at general positions, ±α⋅FWHM. These two approaches do not consider the ultrasmall angle scattering produced by the object independently, which can lead to inconsistent results. An accurate way to separately retrieve the quantitative information intrinsic to the object is proposed. It is based on a statistical analysis of the local rocking curve, and allows one to overcome the problems encountered using the previous approaches.

The P13 macromolecular crystallography beamline, based on the low-emittance source PETRA III, enables X-ray diffraction experiments on macromolecular crystals over a wide wavelength range (0.7–3.1 Å). The beam has a variable focus size and a small divergence enabling data collection on micrometre-sized crystals.

Abstract--The crystal structure of single crystals of kaolinite from Keokuk, Iowa, was refined using data measured at the microfocus X-ray beamline at the ESRE Grenoble, France (X = 0.6883, T -room temperatu[e). The volume of the crystals was 8 and 0.8 txm 3, respectively. Unit-cell parameters are: a = 5.154(9) A, b = 8.942(4) A, c = 7.401(10) A, c~ ~ 91.69(9) ~ , 13 = 104.61(5) ~ "/ -89.82(4) ~ . Space group C1 is consistent with the observed data. All non-hydrogen atoms were independently refined with anisotropic displacement parameters. The positions and isotropic displacement parameters for the three interlayer H atoms were refined a/so. The position of the intralayer H was found by difference-Fourier methods, although refinement was not possible. Difference-Fourier maps suggested large anisotropic displacement vectors of this intralayer H, however, no evidence for a second maximum was found. The diffraction patterns show diffuse scattering in streaks parallel to [001]* through hkl reflections with hk 0, which is caused by stacking faults. No twinning was observed for either of the two crystals.

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