X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) can achieve near-atomic resolution in imaging organic molecules. As a fourth-generation light source, modern XFELs can generate brilliant ultrashort X-ray pulses at MHz repetition rates. This allows XFELs to image single molecules with great detail, obtaining information about their dynamics and states through the interaction of the electrons within the molecule with the X-rays. A key challenge when imaging biomolecules (e.g. proteins, viruses, or bacteria) is to image the sample within its native environment, in solution. 3D-printed gas-accelerated liquid-sheet jet nozzles for liquid sample-delivery have yielded promising results in this respect, demonstrating that liquid sheets can be a reliable alternative to conventional sample-delivery methods, e.g. electrospray. Although the nozzles that this project uses have been successfully used for measurements at XFELs, the effect of nozzle design and liquid material-properties have not previously been explored. Therefore, the present report aims to explore different flow regimes of gas-accelerated liquid-sheet jets, and to study how the generated sheet jet depends upon different parameters, such as gas and liquid flow-rates, sample solution, and nozzle geometry. The findings suggest that low surface tension is crucial for producing large jets, and that higher viscosity may help to generate more stable sheet jets. However, further studies are required to draw definite conclusions.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:uu-531733 |
| Date | January 2024 |
| Creators | Mehlig, Robert Daniel |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
| Relation | MATVET-F ; 24017 |
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