DIAD-Dual Imaging and Diffraction Beamline
I13-2-Diamond Manchester Imaging
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Sarah
Davidson
,
Davide
Simone
,
Kathrin
Jansen
,
Max
Cowan
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Caio
Machado
,
Ian
Reekie
,
Ananya
Bhalla
,
Rowie
Borst
,
Cesar
Prada Medina
,
Joshua
Bull
,
Zhi Yi
Wong
,
Sarah
Hill
,
Micon
Garvilles
,
Sam
Pledger
,
Patricia Reis
Nisa
,
Nora Rebecca
Schwingen
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Dylan
Windell
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Moustafa
Attar
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Catherine
Disney
,
Andrew J.
Bodey
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Alissa
Parmenter
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Helen
Byrne
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Sharif
Ahmed
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Shashidhara
Marathe
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Peter
Lee
,
Chris
Mahony
,
Adam P.
Croft
,
Stephen
Sansom
,
Mark C.
Coles
,
Christopher D.
Buckley
Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[30542, 34348]
Open Access
Abstract: The cellular basis for site-specific inflammation remains unclear. In human fingers, proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints are preferentially affected by inflammatory arthritis, whereas distal interphalangeal joints are spared, providing a model to investigate the predilection of inflammation to distinct sites. Here we combine single-cell RNA sequencing, imaging and X-ray tomography to examine cellular composition, spatial organization and structure of finger joints during fetal development. PIP joints had a larger synovial volume and were enriched for PI16+ ‘universal’ fibroblasts. These cells were located in perivascular regions and at developing tendon–ligament interfaces. PI16+ fibroblasts exhibited both a shared inflammatory and cell-type-specific response to cytokine stimulation, suggesting that the combination of their spatial location and transcriptional responses promote inflammation. We suggest that differences in the stoichiometry of mesenchymal cells established in utero, including the key role of PI16+ fibroblasts, is a general principle that drives inflammation susceptibility across tissues.
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Jun 2026
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DIAD-Dual Imaging and Diffraction Beamline
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Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[31935]
Open Access
Abstract: Spent AGR (Advanced gas-cooled reactor) fuel cladding 20/25/Nb stainless steel may suffer from stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in cooling ponds and compromise storage safety. Therefore, a better understanding of the 3D SCC development is required, as subsurface SCC propagation may be different from surface SCC propagation. In this research, in-situ corrosion tensile experiments were performed on heat-treated 20/25/Nb and 304 stainless steels to capture the real-time development of SCC by X-ray tomography at a synchrotron beamline, and the relationship between SCC and surface roughness was studied. Post-exposure materials were further characterised to analyse the corrosion behaviours of different materials and surface finishes by milling and profiling some corroded grain boundaries with focused ion beam (FIB) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). SCC evolution was not found in 20/25/Nb stainless, but it was only observed in the tomography of 304 stainless steel. The rough surface finish of 304 stainless steel also induced a deeper crack penetration depth and a higher crack growth rate. The post-test characterization further confirmed that the materials suffered from different corrosion modes, where 304 stainless steel specimen showed more features of SCC, and 20/25/Nb stainless steel was more susceptible to intergranular corrosion (IGC) and pitting corrosion.
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Jun 2026
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DIAD-Dual Imaging and Diffraction Beamline
E02-JEM ARM 300CF
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Kang
Xiang
,
Yueyuan
Wang
,
Shi
Huang
,
Hongyuan
Song
,
Alberto
Leonardi
,
Peter
Garland
,
Sharif
Ahmed
,
Michał M.
Kłosowski
,
Hongmei
Yang
,
Mengnie
Li
,
Jiawei
Mi
Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[31637, 35828]
Open Access
Abstract: Using quasi-simultaneous synchrotron X-ray diffraction and tomography techniques, we have studied in-situ and in real-time the nucleation and co-growth dynamics of the peritectic structures in an Al-Mn alloy during solidification. We collected ∼30 TB 4D datasets which allow us to elucidate the phases’ co-growth dynamics and their spatial, crystallographic and compositional relationship. The primary Al4Mn hexagonal prisms nucleate and grow with high kinetic anisotropy -70 times faster in the axial direction than that in the radial direction. In all cases, a ∼5 µm Mn-rich diffusion layer forms at the liquid-solid interface, creating a sharp local solute gradient that governs subsequent phase transformation. The peritectic Al6Mn phases nucleate epitaxially within this diffusion zone, initially forming a thin shell surrounding the Al4Mn with an orientation relationship of {10
0}HCP // {110}O, [0001]HCP // [001]O. Such ∼5 µm Mn-rich diffusion layers also cause solute depletion at the liquid side of the liquid-solid interface, limiting further epitaxial phase growth, but prompting phase re-nucleation and branching at crystal edges, resulting tetragonal prism structures that no longer follow the initial orientation relationship. The anisotropic interfacial kinetics and local region latent heat release also led to the formation of liquid-filled core defects at the centre of both phases. Furthermore, increasing cooling rate from 0.17 to 20°C/s can disrupt the stability of the solute diffusion zone, effectively suppressing the formation of the core defects and forcing a transition from faceted to non-faceted morphologies. Our work provides systematic new knowledge and practical approach for tailoring and controlling the peritectic structures in metallic alloys through the solidification processes.
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May 2026
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DIAD-Dual Imaging and Diffraction Beamline
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Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[39247]
Open Access
Abstract: This work presents the design and development of a 3D printed flow cell tailored for X-ray computed microtomography of liquid–solid systems. The flow cell is manufactured using stereolithographic printing and utilizes a novel pillarless pull-through geometry. The use of the flow cell developed for K-11 DIAD (Dual Imaging and Diffraction beamline, Diamond Light Source, UK) is demonstrated with the in situ flow and selective recovery of an Sn precipitate from solution using an organic ligand. The 3D designs and components are made freely available with this publication.
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Mar 2026
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Abstract: The Ediacaran Period marks the first appearance of animal body fossils in the rock record. While the metazoan affinities of many late Ediacaran macrofossils are well established, their precise placement in the phylogenetic tree remains debated. Meiofaunal trace fossils potentially provide an alternative line of evidence for the presence of early branching bilaterian lineages, but their interpretation is complicated by their similarity with a range of different geological and biological structures. Here, we examine the oldest putative meiofaunal traces from the late Ediacaran (541 Ma) Tamengo Formation, Corumbá Group, Brazil, combining new material and a suite of analytical techniques to assess their morphology, spatial distribution, and preservation. Additionally, we report a newly discovered locality for these fossils, chronologically correlated with the classical outcrops in the Corumbá area through U-Pb radiometric dating of tuff zircons. Concordia ages obtained for the new locality are 544 ± 2.6 (LA-MC-ICP-MS) and 539.03 ± 2.27 Ma (LA-ICP-MS). Fossils from multiple localities exhibit features such as preserved cells, cell wall divisions, organic remains at cell walls, shared alignment, extreme diameter variations, and a lack of cross-cutting relationships. These characteristics are inconsistent with burrow-like trace fossils but are fully consistent with the interpretation as remains of pyritized filamentous organisms. The multimodal size distribution, with at least three distinct size classes, and their partial in-situ preservation further suggest that they represent different species, possibly living in a microbial consortium. While their exact biological affinities remain uncertain, the largest populations share similarities with benthic red or green algae, while the smallest populations could be algal, cyanobacterial or large sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. The preservation of these remains suggests that bioturbation, macrofaunal or meiofaunal, was limited or absent where and when these fossils formed.
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Feb 2026
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DIAD-Dual Imaging and Diffraction Beamline
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Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[38775]
Open Access
Abstract: Understanding the interactions between microstructure, strain, phase and material behavior is crucial in scientific fields such as energy storage, carbon sequestration and biomedical engineering. However, quantifying these correlations is challenging, as it requires the use of multiple instruments and techniques, often separated by space and time. The Dual Imaging and Diffraction (DIAD) beamline at Diamond Light Source is designed to address this challenge. DIAD allows its users to visualize internal structures (in two and three dimensions), identify compositional/phase changes and measure strain. It enables in situ and operando experiments that require spatially correlated information. DIAD provides two independent beams combined at one sample position, allowing `quasi-simultaneous' X-ray computed tomography and X-ray powder diffraction. A unique functionality of the DIAD configuration is the ability to perform `image-guided diffraction', where the micrometre-sized diffraction beam is scanned over the complete area of the imaging field of view without moving the specimen. This moving-beam diffraction geometry enables the study of fast-evolving and motion-susceptible processes and samples. Here, we discuss the novel moving-beam diffraction geometry, presenting the latest findings on the reliability of both the geometry calibration and the data-reduction routines used. We provide a comprehensive quantitative assessment of the moving-beam diffraction geometry implemented at the DIAD beamline, which will serve as a reference for beamline users. Our measurements confirm that diffraction is most sensitive to the moving-beam geometry for the conventional transmission geometry of the detector. The observed data confirm that the motion of the Kirkpatrick–Baez mirror coupled with a fixed-aperture slit results in a rigid translation of the beam probe, without affecting the angle of the incident-beam path to the sample. Our measurements demonstrate that a nearest-neighbor calibration can achieve the same accuracy as a self-calibrated geometry when the distance between the calibrated and probed sample regions is smaller than or equal to the beam spot size. The absolute error of the moving-beam diffraction geometry at DIAD with typical calibration setup remains below 0.01%, which is the accuracy we observe for the beamline with stable beam operation.
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Dec 2025
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DIAD-Dual Imaging and Diffraction Beamline
I12-JEEP: Joint Engineering, Environmental and Processing
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Franck P.
Vidal
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Shaghayegh
Afshari
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Sharif
Ahmed
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Alberto
Albiol
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Francisco
Albiol
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Éric
Béchet
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Alberto Corbí
Bellot
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Stefan
Bosse
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Simon
Burkhard
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Younes
Chahid
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Cheng-Ying
Chou
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Robert
Culver
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Pascal
Desbarats
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Lewis
Dixon
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Johan
Friemann
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Amin
Garbout
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Marcos
García-Lorenzo
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Jean-François
Giovannelli
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Ross
Hanna
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Clémentine
Hatton
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Audrey
Henry
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Graham
Kelly
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Christophe
Leblanc
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Alberto
Leonardi
,
Jean Michel
Létang
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Harry
Lipscomb
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Tristan
Manchester
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Bas
Meere
,
Claire
Michelet
,
Simon
Middleburgh
,
Radu P.
Mihail
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Iwan
Mitchell
,
Liam
Perera
,
Martí
Puig
,
Malek
Racy
,
Ali
Rouwane
,
Hervé
Seznec
,
Aaron
Sújar
,
Jenna
Tugwell-Allsup
,
Pierre-Frédéric
Villard
Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[29820]
Open Access
Abstract: gVirtualXray (gVXR) is an open-source framework that relies on the Beer–Lambert law to simulate X-ray images in real time on a graphics processor unit (GPU) using triangular meshes. A wide range of programming languages is supported (C/C++, Python, R, Ruby, Tcl, C#, Java, and GNU Octave). Simulations generated with gVXR have been benchmarked with clinically realistic phantoms (i.e. complex structures and materials) using Monte Carlo (MC) simulations, real radiographs and real digitally reconstructed radiographs (DRRs), and X-ray computed tomography (XCT). It has been used in a wide range of applications, including real-time medical simulators, proposing a new densitometric radiographic modality in clinical imaging, studying noise removal techniques in fluoroscopy, teaching particle physics and X-ray imaging to undergraduate students in engineering, and XCT to masters students, predicting image quality and artifacts in material science, etc. gVXR has also been used to produce a high number of realistic simulated images in optimisation problems and to train machine learning algorithms. This paper presents a comprehensive review of such applications of gVXR.
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Nov 2025
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DIAD-Dual Imaging and Diffraction Beamline
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Bruno
Becker-Kerber
,
Jochen J.
Brocks
,
Nathaly L.
Archilha
,
Cristiane B.
Rodella
,
Valeri
Petkov
,
Eduardo R.
Deazevedo
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Tairine
Pimentel
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Rodrigo
Garcia
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Duane
Petts
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Janina
Czas
,
Omid H.
Ardakani
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Anthony
Chappaz
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Ângela
Albuquerque
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Javier
Ortega-Hernández
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Rudy
Lerosey-Aubril
,
Michael A.
Kipp
,
Benjamin
Johnson
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Mathieu
Thoury
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Cecilia M. A.
Oliveira
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Hannah H. L. S. M.
Pimentel
,
Raul O.
Freitas
,
Flavio C.
Vicentin
,
Luiz G. F.
Borges
,
Jonathan
Almer
,
Jun-Sang
Park
,
Carla C.
Polo
,
Gilmar
Kerber
,
Lucas
Del Mouro
,
Milene
Figueiredo
,
Gustavo M. E. M.
Prado
,
Sharif
Ahmed
,
Miguel A. S.
Basei
Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[32319]
Open Access
Abstract: The origin of terrestrial life and ecosystems fundamentally changed the biosphere. Lichens, symbiotic fungi-algae partnerships, are crucial to nutrient cycling and carbon fixation today, yet their evolutionary history during the evolution of terrestrial ecosystems remains unclear due to a scarce fossil record. We demonstrate that the enigmatic Devonian fossil Spongiophyton from Brazil captures one of the earliest and most widespread records of lichens. The presence of internal hyphae networks, algal cells, possible reproductive structures, calcium oxalate pseudomorphs, abundant nitrogenous compounds, and fossil lipid composition confirms that it was among the first widespread representatives of lichenized fungi in Earth’s history. Spongiophyton abundance and wide paleogeographic distribution in Devonian successions reveal an ecologically prominent presence of lichens during the late stages of terrestrial colonization, just before the evolution of complex forest ecosystems.
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Oct 2025
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Open Access
Abstract: Background and aims: Certain plant species, including some trees, have been observed growing not only in soil but also in soil parent materials. However, the root traits and mechanisms enabling these species to penetrate soil parent materials are not yet thoroughly understood. This systematic review aims to identify and discuss the root traits and mechanisms that allow plant roots to grow into soil parent materials. It will also draw insights from the characteristics and mechanisms that plants employ to overcome the challenges posed by compacted soils. Methods: We adhered to the 'Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses' (PRISMA) guidelines for our methodology. Results: We identified increased root radial pressure, investment in root biomass, fine root development, root trematotropism, mycorrhizal associations, root hairs, and root exudates as key traits aiding plants in soil penetration. The mentioned root traits and mechanisms have also been shown to help plants overcome compacted soil, except for mycorrhizal associations. Conclusion: The key root traits and mechanisms identified in this review lay the groundwork for a deeper understanding of root-soil parent material interactions and plant adaptations in changing physical environments. This enhances our ability to select the next generation of robust and resilient crops capable of thriving in complex root-soil parent material interactions. Future research on root-parent material interactions in food crops holds promise for improving our understanding of how crops can grow beyond traditional soil limitations (such as soil depth).
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Oct 2025
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DIAD-Dual Imaging and Diffraction Beamline
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James
Le Houx
,
Daniel
Mckay Fletcher
,
Alberto
Leonardi
,
Katherine A.
Williams
,
Nancy
Walker
,
Fernando
Alvarez-Borges
,
Ebrahim
Afsar Dizaj
,
Madhu
Murthy
,
Ronan
Smith
,
Liam
Perera
,
Navid
Aslani
,
Andrew
James
,
Sharif
Ahmed
,
Tiina
Roose
,
Siul
Ruiz
Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[30961, 32138, 33343]
Open Access
Abstract: Soil compaction and escalating global drought increase soil strength and stiffness. It remains unclear which plant root biomechanical mechanisms/traits enable growth in these harsh conditions. Here, we combine synchrotron X-ray computed tomography with spatially resolved X-ray diffraction to characterize the biomechanics of a replica root-soil system. We map the strain field around the root tip analog, finding strong agreement with finite element simulations, thereby demonstrating a promising new in vivo measurement protocol.
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Jul 2025
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