Infrared spectroscopy provides detailed chemical
information about a sample through observation of the vibrational and rotational absorption profile. Chemical bonds vibrate
at specific frequencies, and thus each molecule will have a characteristic profile over the infrared spectrum corresponding
to each bond present.
When performed through a microscope, spatially-resolved chemical maps can be obtained. Synchrotron infrared
light is 1000 times brighter than a conventional infrared source and is highly collimated, making it much more efficient to
focus onto a small spot. This allows our U2B beamline to achieve sample spot sizes limited only by the wavelength of
collection (diffraction limited), enabling investigation of samples that are smaller, more complex or more dilute in
concentration than those studied with a conventional source. Also, the 1000-fold increase in brightness of the synchrotron
translates into ~30X faster data collection times.
The goal of synchrotron infrared spectroscopy at the Center for Synchrotron Biosciences is to combine the
brightness of synchrotron infrared light and the chemical specificity of infrared spectroscopy in order to address important
biological problems. For biomedical research, infrared imaging provides detailed highly spatially-resolved chemical
information about tissues and cellular structures, and analysis of the amide bands is particularly useful for observing
changes in protein secondary structure.
The Center for Synchrotron Biosciences (CSB) U2B beamline, located at the National Synchrotron Light Source
(NSLS) at Brookhaven National Laboratory (Upton, NY) is equipped with a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR)
spectrometer and infrared microscope, with detection capability through the far- and mid-IR spectrum (50-4000cm-1).
Current research at the U2B beamline includes IR imaging of neurons, plants and other biological tissues, as well as
imaging of samples of interest for chemical and environmental sciences. The CSB provides access to the NSLS and user
support for infrared biological research projects conducted by academic, government and industrial institutions.
Requesting Beamtime at the NSLS Beamtime is available through a competitive peer-review process. If you would like more
information about submitting a General User proposal, please visit
