X-Ray Eyes

Pictured here is an European Synchrotron Radiation Facility double mirror system handy for focusing X-ray beams down to the nanometer range. ESRF has used these fine beams to examine recently discovered interstellar dust collected in the Stardust spacecraft. Photographer Peter Ginter describes his process with this image: “I wanted to photograph this detection device, hidden and growing in an eggshell of thoughts, going through many phases of an evolutionary process before it actually sees the light.” While photographing, Ginter noticed the anxiously watching researchers' faces reflected on the surface of the machine, and “instantly had the gut feeling how very much this instrument was an extension of the scientist's mind.” Photograph courtesy ESRF/Peter Ginter