Arizona State University (ASU) has achieved a significant milestone in X-ray science with the successful completion of commissioning experiments on its compact X-ray light source (CXLS). This instrument, located at ASU’s Biodesign Institute, has solved its first protein structure and is expected to drive advances in fields such as medicine, semiconductor manufacturing, and bioenergy.
“Our goal is to make a world-class, compact X-ray facility, which will transform the way we study proteins, perform medical imaging and control quantum processes,” said Arvinder Sandhu, ASU physics professor and director of the CXFEL lab.
Josh LaBaer, executive director of the Biodesign Institute and proteomics expert, emphasized one application: “One of the most exciting applications of this new instrument will be its ability to examine proteins and determine what they do and how they do it.”
Traditionally, powerful X-rays have required large-scale facilities known as X-ray free electron lasers (XFELs), with only five existing worldwide. These are costly to access and require advance booking. To address these limitations, ASU researchers aimed to bring XFEL technology into a laboratory setting by building compact versions. Petra Fromme, scientific director of the CXFEL project at ASU’s Biodesign Center for Applied Structural Discoveries stated: “Our answer was to bring the accelerator XFEL technology to the lab by shrinking the XFEL and building the world’s first compact X-ray accelerators at ASU.”
Over ten years of work culminated in constructing a specialized facility for this purpose. The team began their testing with simple samples like aluminum before moving on to more complex materials such as lanthanum hexaboride for calibration. Samuel Teitelbaum, assistant professor of physics at ASU, explained: “Lanthanum hexaboride is our calibration sample… Benchmark measurements on a sample you understand well are critical.” When diffraction patterns appeared from these tests Teitelbaum noted: “Boom. We got it… But as soon as I saw those aluminum lanthanum hexaboride rings, I knew we could do great science with the CXLS.”
The team then succeeded in analyzing an organic compound—vitamin B12—and finally tackled their main challenge: solving a protein structure using enzyme proteinase K. Upon seeing data from this experiment Sabine Botha commented: “It’s gorgeous,” indicating that results matched those from much larger XFEL facilities.
Sandhu remarked on this achievement: “I am thrilled to see the first-ever X-ray diffraction pattern obtained by our CXLS machine; it is a successful culmination of years of hard work by the scientists and engineers at ASU.” Fromme added: “This is the moment we all have been waiting for since I proposed to President Crow in 2014 the idea to build the world’s first compact XFELs at ASU.”
With operational parameters now met after these milestones Associate Research Professor Mark Holl said: “I’m very enthusiastic and excited for the road ahead, which will certainly yield many more results in fundamental and applied discovery science.”
ASU researchers are also developing an advanced second instrument—a compact X-ray free electron laser (CXFEL)—funded by National Science Foundation grants. This tool is expected to accelerate discoveries relevant to early disease detection.
The availability of these instruments marks an important step for both local researchers and international collaborators. Sandhu concluded: “The success of CXLS commissioning experiments have proved that we are now ready to tackle transformative scientific and technological questions in the fields of biology, medicine and semiconductors… We welcome participation from the ASU community and researchers worldwide.”
These advancements add further evidence supporting Arizona State University’s reputation for innovation; according to U.S. News & World Report rankings ASU has been named number one in innovation for eight consecutive years based on nominations from higher education leaders.
Additionally,the City of Phoenix Street Transportation Department partners with an ASU tech startup, Argos Vision—which develops smart traffic cameras—to improve safety through data analysis during a year-long pilot program.
