Search
Close this search box.

We are creating some awesome events for you. Kindly bear with us.

New Beamline Set Up at ANSTO

Image Credits: ANSTO, Press Release

The new Micro Computed Tomography (MCT) beamline is the first instrument to become operational as part of the AU$94 million Project BRIGHT programme, which will see the completion of eight new beamlines at ANSTO’s Australian Synchrotron. The BRIGHT beamlines greatly expand the investigational power and throughput of the Australian Synchrotron with new capabilities not covered by existing instruments.

Despite a series of setbacks and delays because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a team of instrument scientists, engineers, project officers, and technicians achieved first light on MCT on 21 November 2021 at 8:32 pm. It is a significant technical achievement that is captured and recorded for posterity with a black and white image of the ‘beam,’ which means the synchrotron light has been successfully directed from the main ring to the new beamline.

Micro-CT uses X-rays produced by the Australian Synchrotron to reveal a detailed picture of the inside of an object, slice by slice, non-destructively. The instrument produces a series of projected images captured sequentially while the sample is rotated. Using high-performance computing infrastructure and software, a three-dimensional object can be reconstructed from the projected images.

While similar to a hospital CT or CAT scan, more powerful synchrotron light on MCT can deliver high-resolution 3D images of small samples, including bone, minerals, biomass for biofuels, 3D printed components, textiles, and fossils, among others, Dr Andrew Stevenson, the Lead Instrument Scientist, MCT stated.

A small team of scientists from CSIRO, led by Senior Research Scientist Dr Sherry Mayo, ran the first user experiment on the beamline to investigate how gas under pressure permeated the pores in samples of coke and coal last week.

The researchers produced an intricately detailed 3D reconstruction of a piece of coal about 9 millimetres in size with a complex network of openings known as pores. With the reconstruction, it is possible to get important quantitative measures, such as internal surface area, connectivity of pores, size distribution and shape of pores. The team is now refining results using comprehensive data analysis.

CSIRO was first off, the rank owing to a preferred access scheme to organisations that funded Project BRIGHT. Other users can apply to use the instrument through a merit-based scheme. The ability to use non-ambient sample environments, such as to change pressure and temperature to simulate environmental conditions, will enhance the analytical power of the instrument.

Suitable for sub-micron scale studies, MCT complements the existing Imaging and Medical Beamline, which is used for larger objects. The future development of MCT will extend the imaging capabilities to nanoCT on commensurately smaller samples.

MCT can accommodate samples that are up to 10 mm high × 64 mm wide. The effective field of view will also be increased in the future via ‘stitching.’ The wide variety of experimental configurations, designed in response to the requirements of a diverse user community, will be achieved using five different X-ray imaging detector systems.

The beamline has three separate hutches: the first is to prepare/condition the X-ray beam and deliver it to the second or third hutch for user experiments. The two hutches provide a variety of imaging modalities and support further development. For example, the use of a robot for automated sample exchange. The robot can pick up barcoded samples from a mount with a gripper and position the sample for imaging.

Seven more research teams, including one from ANSTO, have scheduled time to use MCT before the end of the year. These projects have been separated with intervals when the MCT team can continue with aspects of hot commissioning. This also provides the team with the opportunity to capitalise on learnings from the conducted experiments for the benefit of users to come.

PARTNER

Qlik’s vision is a data-literate world, where everyone can use data and analytics to improve decision-making and solve their most challenging problems. A private company, Qlik offers real-time data integration and analytics solutions, powered by Qlik Cloud, to close the gaps between data, insights and action. By transforming data into Active Intelligence, businesses can drive better decisions, improve revenue and profitability, and optimize customer relationships. Qlik serves more than 38,000 active customers in over 100 countries.

PARTNER

As a Titanium Black Partner of Dell Technologies, CTC Global Singapore boasts unparalleled access to resources.

Established in 1972, we bring 52 years of experience to the table, solidifying our position as a leading IT solutions provider in Singapore. With over 300 qualified IT professionals, we are dedicated to delivering integrated solutions that empower your organization in key areas such as Automation & AI, Cyber Security, App Modernization & Data Analytics, Enterprise Cloud Infrastructure, Workplace Modernization and Professional Services.

Renowned for our consulting expertise and delivering expert IT solutions, CTC Global Singapore has become the preferred IT outsourcing partner for businesses across Singapore.

PARTNER

Planview has one mission: to build the future of connected work. Our solutions enable organizations to connect the business from ideas to impact, empowering companies to accelerate the achievement of what matters most. Planview’s full spectrum of Portfolio Management and Work Management solutions creates an organizational focus on the strategic outcomes that matter and empowers teams to deliver their best work, no matter how they work. The comprehensive Planview platform and enterprise success model enables customers to deliver innovative, competitive products, services, and customer experiences. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, with locations around the world, Planview has more than 1,300 employees supporting 4,500 customers and 2.6 million users worldwide. For more information, visit www.planview.com.

SUPPORTING ORGANISATION

SIRIM is a premier industrial research and technology organisation in Malaysia, wholly-owned by the Minister​ of Finance Incorporated. With over forty years of experience and expertise, SIRIM is mandated as the machinery for research and technology development, and the national champion of quality. SIRIM has always played a major role in the development of the country’s private sector. By tapping into our expertise and knowledge base, we focus on developing new technologies and improvements in the manufacturing, technology and services sectors. We nurture Small Medium Enterprises (SME) growth with solutions for technology penetration and upgrading, making it an ideal technology partner for SMEs.

PARTNER

HashiCorp provides infrastructure automation software for multi-cloud environments, enabling enterprises to unlock a common cloud operating model to provision, secure, connect, and run any application on any infrastructure. HashiCorp tools allow organizations to deliver applications faster by helping enterprises transition from manual processes and ITIL practices to self-service automation and DevOps practices. 

PARTNER

IBM is a leading global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting services provider, helping clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Nearly 3,800 government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently, and securely. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and business services deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s legendary commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity, and service. For more information, visit www.ibm.com