We are excited that our new x-ray diffractometer, funded by a National Science Foundation grant of $305,000, has been delivered and is now being readied for use. In the picture, Cam Davidson (on the right) is being shown the innards of the beast by Panalytical installation technician Stephen Strong.
Authors of the grant proposal were Melissa Eblen-Zayas of the Physics Department, Steve Drew, Chemistry Department, and Cam Davidson from the Geology Department. The new machine is housed in the Geology Department and replaces the old XRD that dated from the late 1980s.
X-ray diffraction has many uses in both geology and chemistry. In geology, we often use it to identify minerals by crushing rocks into a powder and then running the powder through the machine. The machine will analyze diffracted x-rays emanating from the sample and run the results through a database to find the mineral identities and relative abundance.
From the proposal: “X-rays have a wavelength that is comparable to the spaces between atoms in many materials. For this reason, x-rays can provide a powerful probe for exploring materials at a level that cannot be achieved with visible light, which has a much larger wavelength. This project will support the purchase of a multipurpose x-ray diffractometer to characterize a wide variety of materials, including materials that might be useful for various kinds of chemical and magnetic sensors and clays that can help us understand the climate history of southeast Alaska. In addition to enabling multidisciplinary research to promote our understanding of materials composition and structure, the XRD system will play an important role in training the next generation of scientists as it will be integrated into the curriculum as well as providing research experiences for undergraduate students in chemistry, geology, and physics at Carleton College.”