Tabletop X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy

X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is a versatile tool for chemistry, biology, and materials science. By probing how x rays are absorbed from core electrons of atoms in a sample, the technique can reveal the local structure around selected atoms. XAS measurements are typically performed using the well-controlled x-ray beams of large-scale synchrotron facilities. A new study, however, shows that a tabletop x-ray source driven by lasers can be used to acquire XAS spectra as accurate as those obtained at synchrotrons. The scheme could dramatically expand the availability of XAS.