This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms of muscle contraction and the many other motile mechanisms involving actin-myosin type interactions is now facilitated by the availability of high intensity synchrotron X-ray sources. Limiting factor in this research, however, is current X-ray detection systems which fail to provide required time and spatial resolution simultaneously. The most promising design for detectors use scintillating phosphors coupled to charge coupled device (CCD). As the current phosphor screens exhibit long persistence effects and lower light conversion efficiencies, the suitability of these systems for proposed demanding time-resolved studies is contingent on having a phosphor with the fast decay characteristics, high spatial resolution, and high conversion efficiency. To address these specific needs, we propose to develop a large area imaging detector based on a novel structured scintillator. The scintillating screen will be fabricated using a sputter deposition process. For detecting X-ray energies typically used in macromolecular crystallography, this sensor will provide high resolution, high detection efficiency, and a fast time response, allowing the full potential of the modern synchrotron sources to be realized. Testing at BioCAT involves pairing these new scintilators with commercial EMCCD based cameras which have the promise to be useful, very cost-effective, X-ray detectors for specialized time-resolved applications
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