The overarching aim of this project is to develop novel structural biology techniques that can be applied on a "conventional" third-generation x-ray source such as the Australian Synchrotron. Accordingly, this program will concentrate on the design and delivery of a flexible experimental station suited to the non-crystalline diffraction techniques under development. We will develop instrumentation to equip a suitable end-station on an in-vacuum undulator beamline at the Australian Synchrotron. The new methods which will be developed by the Theory and Modelling Program will place very significant technical demands upon both the optical and detector systems. The Beamline Development Program will be run by the newly established Centre for Synchrotron Science at Monash University by CI Lewis and PI Berry building upon their many years of expertise developing detector systems at synchrotrons.
The key requirements for the end-station comprise a very stable optical system designed to deliver the highest possible coherent flux to the sample combined with a very high dynamic range detection system. The detailed specifications for many aspects of the beamline can be determined very quickly. We have identified candidate beamlines in the initial suite of beamlines for the Australian Synchrotron that are now very close to our requirements. We will therefore not have to develop a completely new beamline, which would be very expensive.
The optical systems will be based upon those at other major synchrotrons such as the ESRF and SPring8 but it is the detector system that represents the greatest challenge. The detailed requirements on the detector system will require input from all aspects of the Centre programs, but as we have emphasised throughout this proposal, the key issue will be the ability to detect the diffracted signal. Consequently, the most important requirement on this system will be a spatially resolving detector with the highest possible quantum efficiency, but primarily the greatest possible dynamic range. Australia is fortunate to have two of the world's leading experts on x-ray detection systems at Monash University in the persons of CI Lewis and PI Berry. Lewis and Berry will draw upon their previous and current work in devloping two dimensional imaging photon counting detectors optimised for high dynamic range in synchrotron SAXS and imaging spectroscopic detectors.
Our partners at the Singapore Synchrotron Light Source (SSLS) are actively pursuing a program of development of very high brightness undulators for protein crystallography applications, as well as planning a free electron laser development project. In the long term, as the relationship between Australia and Singapore develops, the Centre will nucleate a partnership in state-of-the-art structural biology methods leading ultimately to a fourth generation x-ray source. In the medium term, we anticipate that Singapore may place the Centre end-station developed by this program on a beamline constructed around the new "supramini" undulators being developed at the SSLS. This is a facility that our Singapore partners are proposing to incorporate into the suite of beamlines at the Australian Synchrotron.
