Serial femtosecond crystallography requires reliable and efficient delivery of fresh crystals across the beam of an X-ray free-electron laser over the course of an experiment. We introduce a double-flow focusing nozzle to meet this challenge, with significantly reduced sample consumption, while improving jet stability over previous generations of nozzles. We demonstrate its use to determine the first room-temperature structure of RNA polymerase II at high resolution, revealing new structural details. Moreover, the double flow-focusing nozzles were successfully tested with three other protein samples and the first room temperature structure of an extradiol ring-cleaving dioxygenase was solved by utilizing the improved operation and characteristics of these devices.

This paper outlines the design and testing of a z-scan spectrometer capable of measuring the third order refraction index of liquids. The spectrometer underwent multiple redesigns, with each explored in this paper with their benefits and drawbacks discussed. The first design was capable of measuring the third order refraction index for glass, and found a value of 8.43 +- 0.392 x 10^(-16) cm^2/W for the glass sample, with the literature stating glass has a refraction index between 1-100 x 10^(-16) cm^2/W. The second design was capable of measuring the third order refraction index of liquids, and found values of 1.23 $\pm$ 0.121 $\e{-16}$ and 9.43 +- 1.00 x 10^(-17) cm^2/W for water and ethanol respectively, with literature values of 2.7 x 10^(-16) and 5.0 x 10^(-17) cm^2/W respectively. The third design gave inconclusive results due to extreme variability in testing, and and the fourth design outlined has not been tested yet due to time constraints.

This research endeavor explores the 1964 reasoning of Irish physicist John Bell and how it pertains to the provoking Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen Paradox. It is necessary to establish the machinations of formalisms ranging from conservation laws to quantum mechanical principles. The notion that locality is unable to be reconciled with the quantum paradigm is upheld through analysis and the subsequent Aspect experiments in the years 1980-1982. No matter the complexity, any local hidden variable theory is incompatible with the formulation of standard quantum mechanics. A number of strikingly ambiguous and abstract concepts are addressed in this pursuit to deduce quantum's validity, including separability and reality. `Elements of reality' characteristic of unique spaces are defined using basis terminology and logic from EPR. The discussion draws directly from Bell's succinct 1964 Physics 1 paper as well as numerous other useful sources. The fundamental principle and insight gleaned is that quantum physics is indeed nonlocal; the door into its metaphysical and philosophical implications has long since been opened. Yet the nexus of information pertaining to Bell's inequality and EPR logic does nothing but assert the impeccable success of quantum physics' ability to describe nature.