ARIA will be unavailable on Tuesday 3rd February 2026 CEST due to scheduled maintenance. Please plan work accordingly.
View All X-Ray Techniques at Instruct
The ‘Sample Delivery Test for Serial Crystallography’ service provides users with the opportunity to evaluate different delivery methods and to refine their experimental strategies accordingly. In addition, facility staff offers guidance for drafting beamtime proposals, helping researchers to clearly articulate the technical aspects of sample preparation and delivery.
Sample delivery plays a crucial role in achieving successful data collection at XFELs. This service focuses on identifying and optimizing suitable delivery techniques for each sample type.
Our staff will perform sample delivery tests of users' samples to evaluate compatibility with various systems, including liquid jets, droplet generators, high-viscosity extruders, and fixed-target setups. During these tests, parameters such as flow stability, sample consumption, and jet behaviour are assessed to determine optimal experimental conditions. Facility staff offers these tests, ensuring that users can achieve reproducible and reliable sample delivery performance.
The facility provides consultation and support for beamtime proposal writing, assisting users in defining experimental strategies, describing sample delivery approaches, and articulating technical feasibility. Our staff can help researchers refine their proposal sections related to sample preparation and delivery, improving the overall clarity and competitiveness of submissions.
This service is available through both remote and on-site access, depending on users’ needs and the nature of the planned experiments.
Instrumentation available
-Injection test station (liquid jet), sample delivery test
-Injection test station (HVE), sample delivery test
-Anton Paar MCR92, Rheometer
-Kruess DSA30R, Drop shape analyzer
Injection test station (liquid jet)
- The Injection Test Station (Liquid Jet) allows users to evaluate sample delivery performance under experimental conditions. It enables optimization of flow stability, jet quality, and sample consumption prior to an XFEL beamtime. The station consists of a high-speed camera, light source, and a small vacuum chamber. 3D-printed liquid jet nozzles are provided for injection tests, where the sample is delivered through the nozzle using an HPLC pump and helium gas.
Injection test station (HVE)
- The Injection Test Station (HVE) enables optimization of high-viscosity sample delivery, ensuring stable and reproducible extrusion performance for XFEL experiments. In addition, various viscous media can be tested to identify the most stable injection conditions. The test station is equipped with a high-speed camera, light source, and an HVE injector connected to an HPLC pump and helium gas supply.
Rheometer, Anton Paar MCR92
- The Anton Paar MCR92 is an instrument used to measure rheological parameters, including viscosity and viscoelasticity, over a temperature range from –50 °C to 400 °C. These measurements help estimate sample behavior during injection and thus assisting in selecting an appropriate sample delivery method.
Drop Shape Analyzer, Kruess DSA30R
- The DSA30R is a system designed to analyse interfacial properties by measuring the surface and interfacial tension of oscillating droplets. These measurements provide valuable insights into sample behaviour during injection, aiding in the optimization of delivery conditions.
Consulting on beamtime proposal writing
- The service provides support for beamtime proposal preparation, assisting researchers in defining experimental strategies based on jetting test results. This service is particularly beneficial for researchers who are new to serial crystallography.
