SAXS / WAXS Data & Analysis
Index
Data Collection
Data collection on the SAXS/WAXS beamline is performed using the scatterBrain IDL program developed in house. This program has been developed to provide a more user friendly interface and is also designed to provide greater flexibility in automated scans. scatterBrain does not inhibit the time resolution of the detectors, allowing them to be run at their full acquisition rate and may be used for time-resolved data collection. More information, including a manual, is available at the Beamline Wiki.
Data Retrieval
Experiments at the SAXS / WAXS beamline routinely generate considerable volumes of data and Users are expected to take a copy of their data at the end of their beamtime. Images from the Pilatus 1M SAXS detector and Pilatus 200K WAXS detector are approximately 4 MB and 1 MB respectively. As hundreds of images are routinely collected during each day of beamtime, Users typically require several gigabytes of storage for their data. When rapid image collection is used, e.g. time-resolved experiments, data volumes of above 50 GB can be expected. Please consider the data volume prior to an experiment to ensure you are able to obtain a copy of the data set. For detailed information on data retreival options, refer to the Beamline Wiki.
Data Reduction
Data is collected as .tif images. The profiles shown in scatterBrain at the beamline are not generally saved. It is expected that processing, e.g. radial integration & plotting scattering profiles, will be done by Users after leaving the synchrotron using another version of scatterBrain. This ensures that the full data set is available for processing and study after leaving the synchrotron, although beamline staff may be contacted for assistance if required. The scatterBrain Manual on the Beamline Wiki has some more detailed information about how scatterBrain operates and how to use the program to extract reduced data as dat files.
The scatterBrain program is available locally at the beamline and on the SAXS website. For more details, and to download the latest version of the scatterBrain Analysis Edition, refer to the SAXS Software Page.