Small-angle X-ray scattering under extreme conditions of temperature, pressure, and time

The mechanism and kinetics of phospholipid phase transitions - induced by temperature jumps or pressure jumps and investigated by time-resolved X-ray diffraction using synchrotron radiation - are discussed. Mechanistic models for these thermotropic and barotropic phase transitions obtained from these jump relaxation measurements under non-equilibrium conditions are discussed. In particular, linear or non-linear non-equilibrium, phospholipid phases and transitions, diffraction from partly ordered and disordered lipid systems, and lipid polymorphism are discussed. Then X-ray diffraction with synchrotron radiation, and especially time-resolved X-ray diffraction on lipid phase transitions (T-jumps), pressure jump induced phase transitions, and radiation damage are reviewed. Finally, conclusions are drawn and more than 60 references are listed.