Search

We developed and optimised an optics‐free Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) that can be directly installed on most of the synchrotron radiation end‐stations. The combination of Scanning Probe Microscopies with X‐ray microbeams adds new possibilities to the variety of synchrotron radiation techniques. The instrument can be used for atomic force imaging of the investigated sample or to locally measure the X‐ray absorption or diffraction, or it can also be used to mechanically interact with the sample while simultaneously taking spectroscopy or diffraction measurements. The local character of these measurements is intrinsically linked with the use of the Atomic Force Microscope tip. It is the sharpness of the tip that gives the opportunity to measure the photons flux impinging on it giving beam position monitor features, or allows to locally measure the absorption coefficient or the shape of the diffraction pattern. As an example of the possibilities opened by the instrument we will show diffraction measurements performed on a Ge/Si island while being indented with the AFM tip providing local measure of the Young coefficient. Three ESRF beamlines are going to be equipped with this new instrument.

Short period (14.5mm) hybrid undulator arrays composed of Praseodymium Iron Boron (Pr2Fe14B) magnets (CR53, NEOMAX, Inc.) and vanadium permendur poles have been fabricated at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Unlike Neodymium Iron Boron (Nd2Fe14B) magnets which exhibit spin reorientation at a temperatures below 150 K, PrFeB arrays monotonically increase performance with lower operating temperature. It opens up the possibility for use in operating a cryo‐permanent magnet undulator (CPMU) in the range of 40 K to 60 K where very efficient cryocoolers are available. Magnetic flux density profiles were measured at various temperature ranges from room temperature down to liquid helium (LHe) using the Vertical Testing Facility (VTF) at the National Synchrotron Light Source‐II (NSLS‐II). Temperature variations of phase error have been characterized. In addition, we examined the use of textured Dysprosium (Dy) poles to replace permendur poles to obtain further improvement in performance.

Over the energy range 5∼30 keV a suitably contacted, thin (∼100 μm) diamond plate can be operated in situ as a continuous monitor of X‐ray beam intensity and position as the diamond absorbs only a small percentage of the incident beam. Single crystal diamond is a completely homogeneous material showing fast (ns), spatially uniform signal response and negligible (

A tunable X‐Ray focusing apparatus based on compound refractive lenses (CRL), referred to as a transfocator, has been installed for monochromatic beam (IAT in air transfocator) two years ago in the second optics hutch at ID11 at the ESRF. By varying the number of lenses in the beam, the energy focused and the focal length can be varied continuously throughout a large range of energies and distances.Based the success of the IAT, an in‐vacuum transfocator (IVT) has now been built and installed at ID11.The aim of this poster is to describe and show the mechanical and technical solutions used to design and manufacture this new IVT.The IVT was installed last January in the first optics hutch at ID11. The IVT consists of nine water cooled cartridges containing 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 Be lenses, and 32 and 64 Al lenses, and a protective aperture of O/ 900 μm. The mechanical design is based on a system of pneumatically actuated cartridges with an auto positioning on two stainless steel rods. The vacuum vessel has tran...

Superconducting undulators show a larger magnetic field strength for the same gap and period length, as compared to permanent magnet devices, which allows to generate X‐ray beams of higher brilliance and with harder spectrum. The worldwide first short period length superconducting undulator is in operation since 2005 at the synchrotron light source ANKA in Karlsruhe [1]. To further drive the development in this field a research and development program is being carried out. In this contribution we report on the last progress of the construction of a 1.5 m long superconducting undulator with a period length of 15 mm, planned to be installed in ANKA beginning 2010 to be the light source of the new beamline NANO for high resolution X‐ray scattering. The key specifications of the system are an undulator parameter K higher than 2 (with a magnetic gap of 5 mm) and a phase error smaller than 3.5 degrees. Cryocoolers will keep the coils at 4.2 K for a beam heat load of 4 W. The ongoing R&D includes improvements in...

Completing previous investigations we study a W/B4C transmission multilayer with 350 periods each 1.74 nm as a phase shifter for polarization analysis between 720 eV and 1020 eV. The FWHM of the Bragg curve is as small as 0.18° = 3 mrad and thus smaller than the inherent accuracy of most polarimeters. We discuss some of the experimental implications and limitations. We obtain a phase shift of up to Δ = 24° through out the spectral range.

Top‐up operation was successfully demonstrated at UVSOR‐II, which will remove the short beam‐lifetime problem caused by strong Touschek effect due to the small emittance, 27 nm‐rad, and the low electron energy, 750 MeV. In these years, we have improved the accelerators, step by step, towards top‐up operation. The radiation shielding wall was reconstructed. The energy of the booster synchrotron and the beam transport line were successfully upgraded from 600 MeV to 750 MeV, by replacing the magnet power supplies in 2006. Soon after, we succeeded in injecting the electron beam at the full energy. We improved the radiation safety system and constructed a injection control system. In autumn, 2008, we succeeded in operating the ring for 12 hours as keeping the beam current quasi‐constant at 300 mA. Currently, we operated the ring in the top‐up mode for 12 hours on every Thursday night, to check the effects on the users’ experiments. In 2009, we have succeeded in the top‐up operation in single bunch mode. Free e...

The HEMS Beamline at the German high‐brilliance synchrotron radiation storage ring PETRA III is fully tunable between 30 and 250 keV and optimized for sub‐micrometer focusing. Approximately 70 % of the beamtime will be dedicated to Materials Research. Fundamental research will encompass metallurgy, physics and chemistry with first experiments planned for the investigation of the relationship between macroscopic and micro‐structural properties of polycrystalline materials, grain‐grain‐interactions, and the development of smart materials or processes. For this purpose a 3D‐microsctructure‐mapper has been designed. Applied research for manufacturing process optimization will benefit from high flux in combination with ultra‐fast detector systems allowing complex and highly dynamic in‐situ studies of micro‐structural transformations, e.g. during welding processes. The beamline infrastructure allows accommodation of large and heavy user provided equipment. Experiments targeting the industrial user community will be based on well established techniques with standardized evaluation, allowing full service measurements, e.g. for tomography and texture determination. The beamline consists of a five meter in‐vacuum undulator, a general optics hutch, an in‐house test facility and three independent experimental hutches working alternately, plus additional set‐up and storage space for long‐term experiments. HEMS is under commissioning as one of the first beamlines running at PETRA III.

The mechanical design and performance of a device to suppress higher orders of a spherical grating monochromator at a constant deviation angle is described. The higher order suppressor (HOS) is used for a scanning transmission x‐ray microspectroscope beamline (PolLux) at a bending magnet of the Swiss Light Source (SLS). The instruments allow microspectroscopy in polymer science, of biological samples in the water window as well as the study of magnetic materials with circular or linear polarized light in a photon energy range of 200 eV to 1400 eV. The HOS uses three mirrors acting as a low pass filter for soft x‐rays to improve the absorption spectroscopy of carbon, oxygen and nitrogen 1s core levels. The successful installation and operation of the HOS located after the monochromator is reported. First results obtained using samples from materials research and environmental sciences exemplify the improved spectroscopy capabilities of the instrument.

The Nanoscience beamline (I06) is one of seven Diamond Phase‐I beamlines which has been operational since January 2007 delivering polarised soft x‐rays, for a PhotoEmission Electron Microscope (PEEM) and branchline, in the energy range 80–2100 eV. The beamline is based on a collimated plane grating monochromator with sagittal focusing elements, utilising two APPLE II helical undulator sources, and has been designed for high flux density at the PEEM sample position. A ∼5 μm (σ) diameter beam is focussed onto the sample in the PEEM allowing a range of experiments using x‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), x‐ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) and x‐ray magnetic linear dichroism (XMLD) as contrast mechanisms. The beamline is also equipped with a branchline housing a 6T superconducting magnet for XMCD and XMLD experiments. The magnet is designed to move on and off the branchline which allows a diverse range of experiments.

A novel compact polarimeter for the use in soft x‐ray region having high‐precision eight‐axis automatically driven and two‐axis manually driven equipped with multilayer polarizers was developed at the Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility (BSRF). The polarimeter was designed to utilize reflection and transmission geometry. Four operational modes have been designed and carried out with the polarimeter. Some experiments have been performed by using this polarimeter with various modes.

We present a dedicated beamline branch for high flux and ultra-high resolution (R>100000) gas and vapor phase studies in the vacuum-ultra-violet (VUV) region of light on the undulator beamline I3, located on the 700 MeV MAX-III storage ring. The mechanical and optical design of the branch-line, the differential pumping setup as well as performance characteristics are presented.

The Soft X‐ray Micro‐characterization Beamline (SXRMB) is a medium energy, bending magnet based beamline, designed to cover an energy range of 1.7–10 keV using two sets of crystals—InSb(111) and Si(111). The design goal is to deliver a flux of 2×1011 photons sec−1/100 mA with a resolution up to 10,000 for X‐ray Absorption Spectroscopy. A KB mirror stage is designed to provide microprobe capability, with a spot size of 10×10 μm2 and a flux of >109 at the microprobe station. The beamline has been in the commissioning phase since 2008, and access to the X‐ray absorption endstation is now open to general users. The optical commissioning and performance of the beamline is presented with some early experimental results.

The objectives of this project is install at the 2.75 GeV SOLEIL synchrotron radiation source a calibration and metrology test facility for the R&D of optical components and detectors. We have build, on a bending magnet, two branches to cover an energy range from few eV to 28 keV and give access to white beam. This installation will first address the needs of the SOLEIL experimental groups (Optics and Detectors) and will be used by a large community. This beamline will also be valuable as a general‐purpose beamline to prepare, test and set up a wide range of experiments in the field of Astrophysics, laser plasma etc … A complementary important aspect of this installation is the realization of primary standard: the metrology beamline of SOLEIL could become the national primary standard source in collaboration with the Laboratoire National d’Essais (LNE) and help in the design and characterization of several diagnostics for the Megajoule Laser in Bordeaux in collaboration with the CEA DIF. The beamline has ...

The Sector 7 undulator beamline (7‐ID) of the Advanced Photon Source (APS) is dedicated to time‐resolved x‐ray research and is capable of ultrafast measurements on the order of 100 ps. Beamline 7‐ID has a laser laboratory featuring a Ti:Sapphire system (average power of 2.5 W, pulse duration

In recent years there has been a lot of activity aimed at producing smaller and more intense beams. However, experience has shown that with these beams the quality of the data obtained is highly sensitive to alignment issues, mechanical (in)stabilities, source instabilities, material choices and surface degradations of optical components. Over several years the ESRF has investigated many beamline optical components with the view to improve both beam and sample stability. The measures that have been taken to achieve these improvements are described together with possible improvements that could be envisaged in the future.

The penetrating power of X‐rays coupled with the high flux of 3rd generation synchrotron sources makes X‐ray tomography to excel among fast imaging methods . To exploit this asset of synchrotron sources is the motivation for setting up an ultra‐fast tomography endstation at the TOMCAT beamline. The state of the art instruments at synchrotron sources offer routinely a temporal resolution of tens of seconds in tomography. For a number of applications, for example biomedical studies, the relevant time scales (breathing, heartbeat) are rather in the range of 0.5–2 seconds. To overcome motion artifacts when imaging such systems a new ultra‐fast tomographic data acquisition scheme is being developed at the TOMCAT beamline. We can acquire a full set of projections at sub‐second timescale in monochromatic or white‐beam configuration. We present a feasibility study with the ultimate aim to achieve sub‐second temporal resolution in 3D without significant deterioration of the spatial resolution. For the first time, ...

The Micro‐ and Nanofocus X‐ray Scattering Beamline (MINAXS) of the new 3rd generation source PETRA III is equipped with two endstations, out of which the farthest from the high beta undulator source is designed to provide a high flux, monochromatic X‐ray beam focused to a size in the order of 100 nm×100 nm routinely used for microdiffraction experiments (nanofocus endstation). This contribution presents an overview on the current status of the nanofocus endstation and outlines the to‐be‐used experimental setup.

In order to visualize molecular interaction by the experimental electrostatic potential analysis we have optimized the optical parameters and developed the high‐resolution Debye‐Scherrer camera at the RIKEN materials science beamline, BL44B2 of SPring‐8. For the purpose the camera was designed to be equipped with the hybrid X‐ray detector system. One is the conventional detector, the imaging plate readout off‐line to carry out high d (interplanar spacing)‐resolution measurements and the other is the CCD detector, which can be operated in a camera at variable distances for high angle‐resolution measurements. In addition we have been developing an in‐situ properties measurement system to visualize the electrostatic interaction completely synchronized with material functions.

Time resolved experiments require precision timing equipment and careful configuration of the machine and the beamline. The Australian Synchrotron has a state of the art timing system that allows flexible, real‐time control of the machine and beamline timing parameters to target specific electron bunches. Results from a proof‐of‐principle measurement with a pulsed laser and a streak camera on the optical diagnostic beamline will be presented. The timing system was also used to fast trigger the PILATUS detector on an x‐ray beamline to measure the fill pattern dependent effects of the detector. PILATUS was able to coarsely measure the fill pattern in the storage ring which implies that fill pattern intensity variations need to be corrected for when using the detector in this mode.

We present a X‐ray training course for students. The course covers fundamental properties of synchrotron radiation and basic techniques like scattering and absorption. We prepared ten experiments together with a tutorial. The whole course takes about a week. A first student group from the University of Copenhagen passed the course in June 2009. The experiments were performed at the optics beamline of the Swiss Light Source which can be part‐time allocated for training purposes. Two experiments are described in more detail: scattering from a hanging drop of water turning into ice and measurement of the power of a pink synchrotron beam using a simple calorimeter.

Among the possibilities for a next‐generation hard x‐ray source is a so‐called “ultimate storage ring.” This refers to a large, high‐energy storage ring with very low emittance and high current. Such a ring has the potential to deliver significantly higher spectral brightness and transverse coherence than present third‐generation rings. At the same time, it promises the stability and reliability that users have come to expect in a light source. In this paper, we present a design for a 7‐GeV, 40‐sector storage ring with a circumference of 3.1 km and an emittance of 15 pm in both planes.

The ESRF synchrotron beamline ID19, dedicated to full‐field parallel‐beam imaging techniques such as phase‐contrast and absorption microtomography and X‐ray topography, is one of the most versatile instruments of its kind. This paper presents key characteristics of ID19 in its present form, names examples for research and development performed on the beamline, and outlines the plans for an upgrade on the beamline in coming years, to adapt to the growing needs of the user community. The technical goals envisioned include an increase in available beam size and maximum photon energy, and a substantial increase in flux density for applications using beams of small and intermediate size.

In this paper results from the commissioning phase and from first user experiments of a new EXAFS beamline at the DORIS III storage ring are presented. The bending magnet EXAFS beamline A1 underwent a complete rebuild and now covers the energy range 2.4–8 keV. A Ni‐coated toroidal mirror, placed in a 2:1 focusing position and a plane mirror with one Ni coated stripe and one uncoated (SiO2) stripe are used for effective higher harmonics suppression and focusing. The UHV‐compatible fixed‐exit Double Crystal Monochromator (DCM) is equipped with two Si(111) crystal pairs. The second crystal of one of the two crystal pairs is tilted by 90° around the surface normal to shift the position of glitches. It allows Bragg angles between 5° and 55.5° and continuous scans in quick‐EXAFS mode. Test measurements during the commissioning phase proved the excellent performance of the monochromator and a high quality of the XAFS spectra over the entire working range.

The Physikalisch‐Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), the German national metrology institute, has set up the low‐energy electron storage ring Metrology Light Source (MLS) in close cooperation with the Helmholtz‐Zentrum Berlin (HZB, formerly BESSY). This new storage ring has been in regular user operation since April 2008 and is dedicated to synchrotron‐radiation‐based metrology and technological developments in the far‐IR/THz, IR, UV, VUV and EUV spectral range. The MLS has a double‐bend‐achromate lattice structure, injection is from a 105 MeV racetrack microtron. The electron energy can be ramped to any value from 105 MeV up to 630 MeV and the electron beam current covers the range from one stored electron (1 pA) up to 200 mA. The MLS is the first electron storage ring optimized for the generation of coherent synchrotron radiation, based on an electron bunch shortening mode. In this mode, MLS delivers coherent radiation in the far‐IR/THz spectral range with enhanced intensity as compared to the normal mode of operation. Several beamlines are in operation or in construction, including one undulator beamline, bending magnet beamlines for the calibration of radiation sources and detectors and for reflectometry, an EUV metrology beamline and three IR/THz beamlines.

Lithography using synchrotron radiation in the x‐ray regime provides a powerful method to produce mechanical components of sub‐millimeter size with a very good quality for microtechnological applications. In recent years the demand for x‐ray lithography beamtime for industrial production of microparts increased rapidly resulting in the development of new experimental endstations at synchrotron radiation sources dedicated for the production of micromechanical devices. We present in this work the layout of the new x‐ray lithography beamline BL1 at the synchrotron radiation source DELTA in Dortmund and discuss first results of exposure tests.

SyLMAND, the Synchrotron Laboratory for Micro and Nano Devices at the Canadian Light Source, consists of a dedicated X‐ray lithography beamline on a bend magnet port, and process support laboratories in a clean room environment. The beamline includes a double mirror system with flat, chromium‐coated silicon mirrors operated at varying grazing angles of incidence (4 mrad to 45 mrad) for spectral adjustment by high energy cut‐off. Each mirror can be independently moved by two stepper motors to precisely control the pitch and vertical position. We present in this paper the machine protection system implemented in the double mirror system to allow for safe operation of the two mirrors and to avoid consequences of potential stepper motor malfunction.

We present an overview of the two SPring‐8 diagnostics beamlines, the beamline I (dipole magnet source) and II (insertion device source). At the beamline I, synchrotron radiation (SR) in both the X‐ray and the visible bands is exploited for characterizations of the electron beam. At the beamline II, by observing the spectral, spatial, and temporal characteristics of X‐ray SR of the insertion device (ID), new techniques for accelerator diagnostics are investigated. Irradiation experiments with the ID to develop accelerator components such as photon absorbers, and production of intensive 10 MeV γ‐rays by backward Compton scattering of external far infrared (FIR) laser photons are being prepared at the beamline II.

Flux is a simple yet key indicator of overall beamline alignment. For many synchrotron measurements, the energy resolution and reproducibility are important characteristics as well. However, many beamlines do not have diffractometers capable of measuring the energy resolution in the experimental hutches. For absolute flux measurements, we have found that thickness calibrated Si photodiodes make very convenient, robust detectors capable of handling a wide flux range. For measuring the energy resolution, we have developed a simple, portable instrument analyzer applicable to any beamline with a scanning monochromator. This same instrument is capable of measuring the energy stability and reproducibility as well. We have used these to characterize many of the beamlines on the NSLS X‐ray ring, and will present the methods and our experience to date to demonstrate their usefulness.

At the high energy synchrotron radiation beamline BW5 at DORIS III at DESY a new monochromator providing broad energy bandwidth and high reflectivity is in use. On a small 10×10×5 mm3 silicon crystal scattering at the (311) reflection a thermal gradient is applied, which tunes the scattered energy bandwidth. The (311) reflection strongly suppresses the higher harmonics allowing the use of an image plate detector for crystallography. The monochromator can be used at photon energies above 60 keV.

Very short‐period and in‐vacuum type undulators have been developed and installed in the 2.5‐GeV Photon Factory storage ring, which was upgraded to enhance the straight sections for insertion devices in 2005. X rays ranging from 2 keV to 15 keV are covered by these undurators with their lower harmonics.

X‐ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism (XMCD) spectra from a 5 μm polycrystalline Gd foil were measured in transmission across the Gd L2,3 edges using the Multipurpose Unit for Synchronisation, Sequencing and Triggering (MUSST) card developed at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF). The circularly polarized x‐rays were produced by a diamond phase‐plate and their helicity was rapidly reversed through the use of a piezo driven device. The signal measured for each helicity was recorded by the MUSST card synchronized to the helicity reversal. The results are compared to those obtained using an analogue lock‐in technique.

For the development of an X‐ray beam position monitor (XBPM) for the superconducting wiggler (SW) at the NSRRC, two XBPM are installed in the SW front end. The blades of the XBPM were manufactured with material of three types; tungsten, Glidcop and aluminium, to test the effect of the material on the performance of the XBPM. These three materials are compared with blades of molybdenum that were previously installed. The vibration and thermal expansion of the pillar of a XBPM affects the position reading of the XBPM. For pillars of XBPM of various designs, each type has a distinct thermal isolating material and is filled with a separate damping material for comparison. The design requirements of these XBPM include high spatial resolution of the monitor and mechanical stability of the structure with a large thermal load. The design, fabrication and measurement results are presented here.

I13L is a 250 m long beamline for imaging and coherent diffraction currently under construction at the Diamond Light Source. For modeling the beamline optics the phase‐space based ray‐tracing code XPHASY was developed, as general ray‐tracing codes for x‐rays do not easily allow studying the propagation of coherence along the beamline. In contrast to computational intensive wave‐front propagation codes, which fully describe the propagation of a photon‐beam along a beamline but obscure the impact of individual optical components onto the beamline performance, this code allows to quickly calculate the photon‐beam propagation along the beamline and estimate the impact of individual components.In this paper we will discuss the optical design of the I13L coherence branch from the perspective of phase‐space by using XPHASY. We will demonstrate how the phase‐space representation of a photon‐beam allows estimating the coherence length at any given position along the beamline. The impact of optical components on th...

Helmholtzzentrum Berlin has built an APPLE II undulator for the storage ring PETRA III. The device has a total length of 5m and a minimum gap of 11mm. The high magnetic forces in particular in the inclined mode have been analyzed by means of finite element methods (FEM). Specific mechanic components such as flexible joints have been optimized to cope with the gap‐ and shift‐dependent 3D‐forces and a sophisticated control and drive system has been implemented. After completion of the device, detailed laser interferometer measurements for all operation modes have been performed. The data are compared to the FEM simulations.

The Soft X‐ray beamline at the Australian synchrotron has been constructed around a collimated light Plane Grating Monochromator taking light from an Elliptically Polarized Undulator (EPU). The beamline covers a wide photon energy range between 90 to 2500 eV, using two gratings of 250 l/mm and 1200 l/mm. At present the output from the monochromator is directed into one branchline with a dedicated UHV endstation. The measured performance of the beamline in flux and resolution is shown to be very close to that of theoretical calculations.

X‐ray mirrors are needed for beam guidance, beam alignment and monochromatisation at third‐generation synchrotron light sources (PETRA III) and forthcoming Free‐Electron Lasers (LCLS, European XFEL). Amorphous carbon coatings are currently used as total reflection mirrors at FLASH to guide the photon beam to the various beamlines. These coatings were prepared by means of magnetron sputtering. The new GKSS sputtering facility for the deposition of single and multilayer mirrors with a length of up to 1500 mm and a width of up to 120 mm is in operation. In this contribution we present the results of this new deposition system. A major advantage is that it is now possible to prepare one, two or more mirrors with similar properties over the whole deposition length. The mirror properties were investigated by means of X‐ray reflectometry and interference microscopy. The performance of the mirrors is analyzed, considering X‐ray reflectivity, film thickness and surface roughness. The uniformity of these properties...

The Advanced Photon Source (APS) is a third‐generation, storage‐ring‐based x‐ray source that has been operating for more than 13 years and is enjoying a long period of stable, reliable operation. While APS is presently providing state‐of‐the‐art performance to its large user community, we must clearly plan for improvements and upgrades to stay at the forefront scientifically. Significant improvements should be possible through upgrades of beamline optics, detectors, and end‐station equipment. In this paper, we discuss the evolutionary changes that are envisioned for the storage ring itself. Among the possibilities are long straight sections, additional straight sections, higher current, short‐pulse x‐rays, improved insertion devices, and improved beam stability.

The infrared free electron laser (FEL) and the parametric X‐ray radiation (PXR) developed on the basis of the 125 MeV electron linac at Nihon University have been applied to studies in a variety of scientific fields. Primary users so far are the faculty members in the university, approximately 2000 hr/year of the machine time having been dedicated to the experiments since 2004. Currently the wavelength range of the FEL served for users’ experiments covers 1500 to 6000 nm at the optical power level of 10 to 30 mJ/macropulse. Combination of the fundamental infrared FEL with BBO non‐linear optical crystals yielded higher harmonics with good conversion efficiencies, which has extended the available wavelength range as short as approximately 400 nm. The PXR generator has employed a double‐crystal system so that the monochromatic X‐ray beam is available at a fixed output port independently of the X‐ray center energy. By using a Si(111) crystal as the PXR target the energy variable monochromatic X‐ray beam from 5 to 20 keV has been successfully applied to users’ experiments. The latest work on the PXR generation using a Si(220) target crystal has demonstrated availability of the X‐ray beam with energies up to approximately 34 keV.

This paper describes the design and fabrication of safety shutter for the Indus‐2 synchrotron source on bending magnet front‐ends. The purpose of the safety shutter is to absorb Bremsstrahlung radiation generated due to scattering of electron beam from residual gas ions and components of the storage ring. The safety shutter consists of a radiation absorber actuated inside a rectangular ultra high vacuum chamber by pneumatic actuator. A water‐cooled copper block is mounted before the absorber block to protect it from the incident heat load due to synchrotron radiation. The top flanges of the chamber are made with rectangular knife edge sealing which is found to be better than wire seal at higher temperature. The physics aspect of safety shutter is designed using simulation code Electron Gamma Shower EGS‐4 code.

Seven beamlines are operated for macromolecular crystallography (MX) at SPring‐8. The three undulator beamlines are developed for cutting edge target and four bending‐magnet beamlines are developed for high throughput MX. The undulator beamline, BL41XU that provides the most brilliant beam, is dedicated to obtain high quality data even from small‐size and weakly‐diffracting crystals. The minimum beam size at sample position is achieved to 10 μm diameter using a pin‐hole collimator. Its photon flux at wavelength λ = 1.0 A is 2.8×1011 photons/sec. This small beam coupled with irradiation point scanning method is quite useful to take diffraction dataset from small crystals by suppressing the radiation damage. These advanced technologies made a number of difficult protein structure analysis possible, (i.e. Sodium‐potassium ATPase). The bending‐magnet beamlines BL26B1/B2 and BL38B1 provide automatic data collection exploiting the high mobility of the beam. The beamline operation software “BSS,” sample auto‐cha...

At modern synchrotron radiation sources and beamlines, high‐precision positioning techniques present a significant opportunity to support state‐of‐the‐art synchrotron radiation research. Meanwhile, the required instrument positioning performance and capabilities, such as resolution, dynamic range, repeatability, speed, and multiple axes synchronization are exceeding the limit of commercial availability. This paper presents the current nanopositioning techniques developed for the Argonne Center for Nanoscale Materials (CNM)/Advanced Photon Source (APS) hard x‐ray nanoprobe and high‐resolution x‐ray monochromators and analyzers for the APS X‐ray Operations and Research (XOR) beamlines. Future nanopositioning techniques to be developed for the APS renewal project will also be discussed.

The ESRF has recently started an ambitious project spread over 10 years aimed at an upgrade of the accelerator, beamlines and infrastructure. Through this upgrade, we are proposing a refurbishment of the scanning EXAFS beamline BM29 and of the Energy Dispersive XAS (EDXAS) beamline ID24.

Recent advances in high‐throughput techniques for macromolecular crystallography have highlighted the importance of structure‐based drug design (SBDD), and the demand for synchrotron use by pharmaceutical researchers has increased. Thus, in collaboration with Astellas Pharma Inc., we have constructed a new high‐throughput macromolecular crystallography beamline, AR‐NE3A, which is dedicated to SBDD. At AR‐NE3A, a photon flux up to three times higher than those at existing high‐throughput beams at the Photon Factory, AR‐NW12A and BL‐5A, can be realized at the same sample positions. Installed in the experimental hutch are a high‐precision diffractometer, fast‐readout, high‐gain CCD detector, and sample exchange robot capable of handling more than two hundred cryo‐cooled samples stored in a Dewar. To facilitate high‐throughput data collection required for pharmaceutical research, fully automated data collection and processing systems have been developed. Thus, sample exchange, centering, data collection, and data processing are automatically carried out based on the user’s pre‐defined schedule. Although Astellas Pharma Inc. has a priority access to AR‐NE3A, the remaining beam time is allocated to general academic and other industrial users.

The FERMI@Elettra free electron laser (FEL) user facility is under construction at Sincrotrone Trieste (Italy), and it will be operative in late 2010. It is based on a seeded scheme providing an almost perfect transform‐limited and fully spatially coherent photon beam. FERMI@Elettra will cover the wavelength range 100 to 3 nm with the fundamental harmonics, and down to 1 nm with higher harmonics. We present the layout of the photon beam transport system that includes: the first common part providing on‐line and shot‐to‐shot beam diagnostics, called PADReS (Photon Analysis Delivery and Reduction System), and 3 independent beamlines feeding the experimental stations. Particular emphasis is given to the solutions adopted to preserve the wavefront, and to avoid damage on the different optical elements. Peculiar FEL devices, not common in the Synchrotron Radiation facilities, are described in more detail, e.g. the online photon energy spectrometer measuring shot‐by‐shot the spectrum of the emitted radiation, the beam splitting and delay line system dedicated to cross/auto correlation and pump‐probe experiments, and the wavefront preserving active optics adapting the shape and size of the focused spot to meet the needs of the different experiments.

We are developing coherent light sources at the UVSOR‐II electron storage ring. We have developed a resonator type free electron laser in the visible to the deep UV range, coherent harmonic generation source in VUV range and coherent synchrotron radiation source in the terahertz range. A new five year plan has been started from FY2008, where a new 4m straight section will be created by moving the beam injection point, a new optical klystron type undulator will be installed and dedicated beam‐lines will be constructed. Great advances on the coherent light source developments at the new straight section are expected.

A new soft X‐ray beamline (BL10) at the SAGA Light Source (SAGA‐LS) was constructed at the end of 2008. Commissioning of this new beamline started at the beginning of 2009. Synchrotron radiation from a variably polarizing undulator (APPLE‐II) can be used in this beamline. The obtained light is monochromatized by a varied‐line‐spacing plane grating monochromator with the variable included angle mechanism. Its designed resolving power and photon flux are 3,000–10,000 and 1012−109 photons/s at 300 mA, respectively. The performance test results were generally satisfactory. An overview of the optical design of the beamline and the current status of commissioning are reported.

The instrumentation of the hard X‐ray beamline BL8 at the 1.5 GeV Dortmund Electron Accelerator DELTA is described, and the properties of the X‐ray optical elements are presented together with experimental data of different fields of research. The beamline, which makes use of the photons emitted by a superconducting asymmetric wiggler, is dedicated to X‐ray studies—especially X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS)—in the spectral range from about 1 keV to ca. 25 keV photon energy using three different monochromators, namely YB66(400), Si(111) and Si(311). The endstation comprises a 6‐axis diffractometer that is capable of carrying heavy loads related to non‐ambient sample environments such as high pressure cells, cryostats or even complete ultrahigh vacuum systems. X‐ray absorption spectra from several reference compounds illustrate the performance of the beamline optics concerning e.g. energy range, energy resolution and beam stability. Fluorescence detection enables the investigation of dilute sample syste...

The Siam Photon Source has continuously been upgraded to improve its performance. The energy of stored electrons has been increased from 1.0 GeV to 1.2 GeV. The beam lifetime has been increased greatly to 23 hours at 100 mA, comparing to its designed value of 6 hours. The development of the light source has focused on the preparation work for the production of hard X‐rays from a superconducting magnet wiggler. More beamlines have been designed and are under constructions. An existing beamline for photoemission beamline (BL4) has been modified to cover wider spectral range of undulator radiation. Three more X‐ray beamlines are being built for XAS, PX and SAXS/WAXS experiments. An IR microspectroscopy is also under construction.

The HiSOR is a small racetrack type storage ring aiming for usage of synchrotron radiation. This ring is equipped with two undulators. One of them is a linear undulator and another is a helical one. These undulators serve high‐flux VUV photon beams. Therefore, these beamlines are oversubscribed mainly for the high precision photo‐electron spectroscopy experiments to investigate various materials. To solve this problem, we investigated possibilities to replace present undulators and beamline optics to those with better performance. One of such candidate undulator beamlines is a two‐branch‐beamline with a single elliptical undulator. Another candidate is a beamline equipped with a quasi‐periodic undulator.