Rigaku logo

Volume 40(1) - Winter 2024

  • Technical article
    Pages 01-07
    Performance Evaluation of the High Frame Rate Detector XSPA

    Yasukazu Nakaye, Yasutaka Sakuma, Takuto Sakumura, Satoshi Mikusu and Kazuyuki Matsushita

    In recent years, Hybrid Photon Counting (HPC) detectors have been widely used in the field of X-ray measurement. These detectors display no readout noise and provide a large dynamic range, high frame rate, small point spread function and no blurring. By combining these advantages of HPC detectors with high-speed data readout systems, it is possible to realize a high-performance X-ray detection system with single-photon detection and high detection efficiency. One of the most important elements of HPC detectors is their high-speed readout technology. With the latest HPC detector systems, frame rates of about 1000 fps can be easily realized, which is 1–2 orders of magnitude faster than the frame rate of CCDs, which have been mainstream until now. To meet these demands, the X-ray Seamless Pixel Array (XSPA) detector series was developed. XPSA technology is capable of continuous measurements at 56,000 fps and, with the XSPA Burst Mode, it is possible to achieve intermittent measurements at 970,000 fps. The shortest exposure time for a single frame is 48 nanoseconds. This is achieved by the high-performance UFXC32k chip jointly developed with AGH University and a data readout system that can handle high data rates in real time. In this report, we evaluated the basic performance of the XSPA detector.
  • Technical article
    Pages 08-19
    Beyond static structure: X-ray solution scattering: MAXS reveals a massive movement during catalytic action of the non-phosphorylated human kinase MAP2K4

    Takashi Matsumoto, Akihito Yamano, Yuka Murakawa, Harumi Fukada, Masaaki Sawa and Takayoshi Kinoshita

    Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is a well-known technique for analyzing the size and shape of proteins in solution. Standard SAXS uses data below about q = 0.25 Å⁻¹. Therefore, SAXS can only provide information regarding size changes in the target molecule, aggregation, and approximate molecular shape. On the other hand, X-ray scattering in the middle-angle region (q = 0.30–0.75 Å⁻¹) contains important information for analyzing molecular structure and conformational changes in solution, such as the distance between intramolecular tertiary structures and the distance between secondary structures. By using the data in this middle-angle region, we can visualize more detailed molecular behavior and conformational changes. The solution scattering method that includes this important middle-angle region information is named “middle angle X-ray scattering (MAXS)”. In this article, we introduce the “massive movement” of the structure of human kinase MAP2K4 in solution, which was revealed by structural ensemble analysis using MAXS.
  • New Product
    Pages 20-23
    Wavelength Dispersive X-ray fluorescence Spectrometer - ZSX Primus III NEXT

    X-ray fluorescence analysis is an elemental analysismethod that can quickly and nondestructively analyze elements contained in a sample with simple sample preparation. Furthermore, it is widely used for process control and quality control analysis of steel, cement, refractories, and other materials owing to its excellent measurement reproducibility.

    To meet the requirements of our customers, Rigaku’s ZSX Primus series of sequential wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometers include the high-end tube-above ZSX Primus IV, high-end tube-below ZSX Primus IVi and ZSX Primus 400 for XRF analysis of large samples.

    Rigaku has developed a new spectrometer, ZSX Primus III NEXT equipped with tube above optics, as a successor to the ZSX Primus III+ . The spectrometer has improved hardware and software performance and functions and an ability for enhanced support for daily analysis compared to the previous model.

  • New Product
    Pages 24-26
    Thermoplus EVO3 DSCvesta2: DSC with a Newly Designed Thermal Sensing Plate

    Thermal analyzers are widely used in various material fields. Specifically, the DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimeter) is an essential tool for investigating glass-transition temperature and melting points of polymers and pharmaceuticals. In 2017, Rigaku released DSCvesta®, which had a higher sensitivity, better stability, and wider measurement-temperature range than earlier models. Recently, Rigaku has developed its upper model, DSCvesta2, with a newly designed thermal sensing plate to improve the DSC performance even further.
  • New Product
    Pages 27-31
    Total X-ray Scattering (TXS) Plugin

    The local structure of materials is closely related to their functional properties, a subject that has been extensively studied for cathode materials, solid electrolytes and anode materials for Li-ion batteries, ferroelectric materials (BaTiO₃) and so forth. Pair distribution function (PDF) analysis is widely used to evaluate local structure in materials. The PDF G(r) is directly obtained from the Fourier transform of the structure factor S(Q), which is calculated from an experimental total scattering pattern. Many PDF analysis results focus on whether or not the calculated value Gcalc(r) reproduces the observed value Gobs(r) using the unit-cell of crystalline structures and many other parameters (e.g., broadening factor, damping factor, etc.). PDF is a one-dimensional function depending only on distance r, and it enables the evaluation of interatomic distances and coordination numbers. However, it is difficult to perform precise analysis of local atomic arrangements (e.g., the displacement histogram of each element, the angular histogram and etc.). Total scattering analysis is often used not only for G(r) but also for S(Q) to analyze such three-dimensional local structure. 

    Recently, there has been an increasing demand to perform local structural analysis using a laboratory instrument that can measure the total scattering profile to a wide Q range. We have already reported that SmartLab equipped with an Ag rotating anode tube and a Si pixel detector for high-energy X-rays can perform the total scattering measurement with extremely low background. The S(Q) for SiO₂ glass measured by SmartLab has the same quality as that obtained from a synchrotron facility. Furthermore, we have released the RMC option, an improved RMC method originally proposed by R. L. Mcgreevy and L. Puzai, in the total scattering analysis plugin of SmartLab Studio II (SLSII). The RMC option can easily evaluate the local structure in a crystalline material. Moreover, we changed the plugin name from “PDF plugin” to “Total X-ray Scattering (TXS) analysis plugin” based on the concept that PDF analysis is a part of total scattering analysis.

    In this paper, we introduce the basic functions and features of the TXS analysis plugin using actual analysis data.