S-TOMCAT: TOmographic Microscopy and Coherent rAdiology experimenTs

The S-TOMCAT beamline at the Swiss Light Source is a cutting-edge facility operated by the X-ray Tomography Group at PSI. It is designed to exploit the unique properties of synchrotron radiation for fast, non-destructive, and high-resolution 3D imaging across a wide range of scientific disciplines. S-TOMCAT supports both absorption-based and phase-contrast imaging, with isotropic voxel sizes ranging from 0.16 to 11 micrometers and an energy range of 8 to 80 keV (monochromatic) as well as white beam from a powerful 5T superconducting magnet. Beam size at sample can be as large as 50 mm horizontally. Phase contrast is achieved through propagation-based techniques, as well as grating interferometry, allowing researchers to visualize fine structural details even in weakly absorbing materials.

Research Topics:

Life sciences, for studying biological tissues, organs, and plant structures
Materials science, for analyzing microstructures, defects, and mechanical behavior
Geosciences, for investigating porosity, mineralogy, and fluid transport in rocks and soils
Engineering and manufacturing, for quality control, additive manufacturing, and failure analysis
Cultural heritage and paleontology, for imaging fossils, artifacts, and historical materials
Energy research, for exploring degradation, microstructure evolution, and transport phenomena in batteries, fuel cells, and other energy materials
Technical NameX02DA
Source5T superbend
Sector2
FacilitySLS