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Growing Larger Crystals for Neutron DiffractionObtaining crystals of suitable size and high quality has been a major bottleneck in macromolecular crystallography. With the advent of advanced X-ray sources and methods the question of size has rapidly dwindled, almost to the point where if one can see the crystal then it was big enough. Quality is another issue, and major national and commercial efforts were established to take advantage of the microgravity environment in an effort to obtain higher quality crystals. Studies of the macromolecule crystallization process were carried out in many labs in an effort to understand what affected the resultant crystal quality on Earth, and how microgravity improved the process. While technological improvements are resulting in a diminishing of the minimum crystal size required, neutron diffraction structural studies still require considerably larger crystals, by several orders of magnitude, than X-ray studies. From a crystal growth physics perspective there is no reason why these 'large' crystals cannot be obtained: the question is generally more one of supply than limitations mechanism. This talk will discuss our laboratory s current model for macromolecule crystal growth, with highlights pertaining to the growth of crystals suitable for neutron diffraction studies.
Document ID
20030113046
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Pusey, Marc
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2003
Subject Category
Solid-State Physics
Meeting Information
Meeting: 5th International Symposium on Organized Research Combination System
Location: Ibaraki
Country: Japan
Start Date: November 19, 2003
End Date: November 21, 2003
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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