The CSRRI operates two sectors at the Advanced Photon Source (APS) (http://www.aps.anl.gov), Argonne National Labs BioCAT, sector 18 and the MR-CAT sector 10. These facilities are among the best in the world for the kinds of studies for which they were designed.
BioCAT is a NIH-supported research center at the Advanced Photon Source Argonne IL for the study of partially ordered and disordered biological materials. Techniques supported by BioCAT include: scanning hard X-ray microprobe for metal distribution and speciation in tissues; fiber diffraction and micro-diffraction of muscle, connective tissue, amyloids and viruses; small-angle-X-ray scattering from macromolecules in solution. The BioCAT facility comprises an undulator based beamline, (18-ID) associated laboratory and computational facilities. Access is available to all scientists on basis of peer-reviewed beamtime proposals. For more information see the BioCAT webpage at http://www.bio.aps.anl.gov
MR-CAT is a partnership between IIT, University of Notre Dame, University of Florida, Argonne National Laboratory Chemical Engineering Division, Argonne Biosciences Division, and the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. Techniques supported by MR-CAT include: x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) for local structural studies of materials and environmental systems; hard x-ray microprobe for heavy element distribution, speciation and XAS; high-resolution diffraction; deep x-ray lithography and photochemistry. Specialized capabilities: rapid scan XAS; 19-element detector for very dilute systems; in-situ and radioactive materials studies. The MR-CAT sector has both an undulator (10-ID) and a bending magnet (10-BM) beamline. 75% of beam time is allocated to CAT members and 25% is available to General Users on the basis of proposals submitted through the APS. For more information see the MR-CAT webpage at http://mrcat.iit.edu/
CSRRI provides services for beamline construction, operations and maintenance both within IIT and contracting for other beamline facilities (SER-CAT and IMCA-CAT) at the APS.
The CSRRI also maintains shared on-campus x-ray facilities for use in CSRRI faculty research and for training.