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SOLEIL methods for heritage research
Research Contents > Transverse programs > Ancient and historical materials > Méthodes matériaux anciens
2D micro-imaging  
X-ray microtomography  
X-ray absorption and diffraction  
 
 

Call for proposals :
Call for proposals are scheduled every 6 months. Please do not hesitate to contact the HALO liaison office beforehand and apply to the "heritage and archaeology" review committee. Additional information is available through the Users office.

Micro-imagerie 2D
Infrared and X-ray microbeams (i.e. beam of a diameter of a few microns or less) are either used for single spot analyses on minute samples or to acquire 2-d (3-d) raster scans. Such scans can lead to the very precise mapping of composition (X-ray fluorescence), chemical (X-ray absorption, infrared microscopy) and structure (X-ray diffraction) information at a micrometre length-scale level, crucial for the understanding of the materials, their ageing and the treatments applied to them [1-3].
Using multitechnique synchrotron beamlines, the various levels of information can be collected at the same acquisition point. Reducing the beam footprint can additionally decrease the complexity thanks to the lower number of chemical species contributing to each spectrum collected, thus simplifying further data processing.
Corresponding beamlines at SOLEIL :
  • LUCIA, for micro-imaging in the medium X-ray range (open at SLS)
  • DIFFABS, for micro-diffraction and micro-absorption in the hard X-ray range (next call 15.09.2006)
  • SMIS, for spectro-microscopy in the infrared range (next call 15.09.2006)
  • MICROSCOPIUM, for micro-imaging in the hard X-ray range (opening 2009)
  • DISCO, for imaging in the ultraviolet-visible range (opening 2007)

 

 

References :
[1] S. Reguer, P. Dillmann, F. Mirambet, J. Susini, et P. Lagarde. Investigation of Cl corrosion products of iron archaeological artefacts using micro-focused synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Appl. Phys. A, 83(2):189-193, May 2006. [ .html ]
[2] M. Sandström, F. Jalilehvand, I. Persson, U. Gelius, P. Frank, et I. Hall-Roth. Deterioration of the seventeenth-century warship Vasa by internal formation of sulphuric acid. Nature, 415(6874):893-897, February 2002. [ .html ]
[3] L. Bertrand. Synchrotron imaging for archaeology, art history, conservation and paleontology, in Physical Principles in Art and Archaeometry (D. C. Creagh, ed.), in press.

 

Please do not hesitate for enquiry.
You can consult as well the webpage on synchrotron techniques.

Absorption et diffraction de rayons X
X-ray absorption is used to determine the electronic and atomic environments of a given element, through two main methods: X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). The main use in archaeometry, art history and conservation science is to obtain the precise determination of the chemical environment of selected atoms, often to confirm an oxidation state or to identify a chemical compound using references. Accurate distances to neighbouring atoms can be determined [1].

Corresponding beamlines at SOLEIL :

  • SAMBA, for absorption spectroscopy in the hard X-ray energy range (next call 15.09.2006)
  • DIFFABS, LUCIA, MICROSCOPIUM in micro-imaging mode
Microtomographie de rayons X
Full field X-ray micro-computed tomography methods rely on the interaction between a wide beam and a sample. The resolution is then primarily limited by that of the detector and can be less than a half a micrometer at synchrotron tomography beamlines. Some of the major specificities of the synchrotron radiation (monochromaticity, high intensity, nearly parallel geometry and coherence) are particularly suited to the observation of samples that are difficult to image using conventional radiography and microtomography equipment. In particular, the 'beam hardening' effect due to the polychromaticity of laboratory X-ray sources is suppressed and the contrast of materials that have a rather homogenous density distribution can be strongly enhanced using phase contrast imaging.
Many recent works at synchrotron tomography beamlines have been carried out on paleontological samples [1].

Corresponding beamline at SOLEIL :

  • HP, for hard X-ray microtomography (opening 2008)

References :
[1] P. Tafforeau et al.. Applications of X-ray synchrotron microtomography for non-destructive 3D studies of paleontological specimens. Appl. Phys. A, 83(2):195-202, May 2006. [ .html ]


Please do not hesitate to contact us for enquiry.
You can consult as well the webpage on synchrotron techniques.

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