Introduction

Abstract

The aim of this book is to demonstrate the applications of synchrotron radiation in certain aspects of cell microbiology, specifically non-destructive elemental analyses, chemical-state analyses and imaging (distribution) of the elements within a cell. The basics for understanding and applications of synchrotron radiation are the same as those of X-ray spectrometry, which has been well developed during the twentieth century and is widely applied to various fields of science and technology, including biology and medicine. The two main techniques that will be discussed in this book are the X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) and the X-ray fine structure analysis (XAFS). What makes a synchrotron radiation X-ray source very useful for analytical works, especially for biological applications, are the very high brilliance and energy variability of the X-ray beam.