X-Ray Free-Electron Lasers Open New Realm of Crystallography

Saturday, 15 February 2014
Columbus EF (Hyatt Regency Chicago)
Sebastien Boutet , SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA
The innovation of serial femtosecond crystallography using ultrashort free electron laser pulses has made it possible to image samples as never before in the split seconds before they are destroyed. This complement to synchrotron research has led to new abilities to image certain types of molecules and provided new insights to ultrafast processes like photosynthesis. We’ll discuss where X-ray free-electron laser innovations can take crystallography and the global benefits that could result.