Anomalous and Resonant X-ray Scattering: from Crystalline Materials to Soft Matter

Organizers: Eric Meshot (LLNL), Jun Feng, Chenhui Zhu, Cheng Wang, Alastair MacDowell (LBNL)

**Locations: Oct, 2nd (2-100B); Oct. 3rd (2-100B for data session and 2-400F for tender session)

As a premier light source for soft and tender X-ray science, the ALS has fostered fast growth of a soft matter community that revolves around resonant soft X-ray scattering and more recently resonant tender X-ray scattering (the latter covering important elements such as P, S, Cl, K, Ca and 3d transition metals). The power of these spatiochemical techniques lies in the combination of spectroscopy and scattering in a single probe, which provides nano-structural information with chemical specificity. However, the current state of instrumentation, methodology, and quantitative data analysis must improve to fully capitalize on this element-specific information and usher in a new generation of users in anticipation of ALS-U. This forum bridges the gaps between different communities, where the unifying theme is understanding principles of energy-dependent X-ray scattering in proximity to an absorption edge and how to derive meaningful interpretations from this rich structural information. This workshop begins on Day 2 of the meeting with joint discussions of cutting-edge scattering instrumentation across soft, tender, and hard X-ray energy regimes, as well as emergent material science expected to benefit from these powerful tools. Day 3 features two parallel breakout sessions in the morning focused on A) resonant data interpretation and B) tender X-ray science needs, with a succinct joint wrap-up session to culminate the workshop.