Archaeometry at synchrotrons: how to get the most out of ancient materials

Abstract

X-rays techniques are widely utilised in the field of archaeometry because of the numerous advantages they present. Using X-rays, structural and chemical details of specimens can be assessed while preserving artefacts integrity, with the additional benefit of requiring little or no sample preparation procedures. Synchrotron sources produce high-intensity, highly collimated beams whose energy can be easily tuned over broad ranges going from the IR to the X-rays. Their peculiarities include unbeatable spatial resolution, enhanced elemental selectivity, and extraordinary chemical sensitivity. In recent years, synchrotron beams have achieved a significant evolution thanks to several factors, such as advancements in source and optics design, acquisition of higher-level technical and scientific expertise, etc. This has ignited an increasing interest in synchrotron-based techniques which are expanding more and more, approaching always new frontiers. This work presents the main characteristics of synchrotrons and aims to help the unfamiliar readers in the non-trivial choice between laboratory and synchrotron sources for their scientific investigations.