This paper provides a review of active control strategies used to isolate high-precisionmachines (e.g. telescopes, particle colliders, interferometers, lithography machines or atomic force microscopes) from external disturbances. The objective of this review is to provide tools to develop the best strategy for a given application. Firstly, the main strategies are presented and compared, using single degree of freedom models. Secondly, the case of huge structures constituted of a large number of elements, like particle colliders or segmented telescopes, is considered.

Kyushu University has installed the hard X-ray beamline, BL06, at bending magnet source of SAGA Light Source in Japan. It is designed for X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) experiments. The X-ray energy covered by the beamline ranges from 2.1 to 23 keV using a Si(111) flat double-crystal monochromator. Two bent cylindrical-type focusing mirrors are used, each with a different focal point. They are set in the optics section and can be used independently. One of the mirrors has a focal distance of 6 m, which corresponds to the sample stage for XAFS experiments, while the second mirror focuses at 10 m, corresponding to the detector for the SAXS experiments. The photon flux measured by the ion chamber at mirror focal point is 1010 phs/s. The experimental hutch houses the detection equipment for both XAFS and SAXS. For XAFS studies, a set of ion chambers for transmission mode and a Lytle detector and a Si drift detector for fluorescence yield mode are available. For SAXS studies, the camera pass length can be chosen from 0.5 to 2.5 m with 0.5 m increments in between, and an image plate is operated as signal detector. The beamline will be opened for user operation around summer 2010.

The XALOC beamline is dedicated to macromolecular crystallography. The position and angle of the X-ray beam at the sample change in horizontal and vertical directions. Consequently, the support of the sample has to follow the beam with two linear and two rotational movements. For this purpose ALBA engineering division has developed a positioning table in house. The main goal of the design was to achieve high resolution, accuracy and stability. Effective resolution and accuracy need adequate actuators and high stability, in the range of 0.1 µm and 0.2 µrad resolution and 1 µm repeatability and first resonance mode f0 = 45 Hz (static and dynamic), for a 1.5 m-long, 1 m-high and 0.6 m-wide table which can support 0.5 tonnes of payload. The actuators were chosen by analytical calculations, whereas the stability is accomplished by a design that minimizes the thermal drifts and avoids the amplification of the vibrations from the ground, increasing the frequency of the resonance modes. The concept is based on a big block of natural granite that acts as a very stable reference base, in terms of thermal expansion and stiffness, and the mechanics are placed as close as possible to this reference. In this manner, the thermal drift is minimized and the stiffness is maximized. Conceptually, the mechanics can be imagined as a skin around the granite base. To reach a proper design several solutions have been analysed, with Finite element analysis (FEA) tools, to validate a compromise solution which has been produced and tested.

A new X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) measurement system under atmospheric pressure in the soft X-ray region has been installed at the beamline BL11 of Saga Light Source (SAGA-LS) in Japan. XAFS spectra in the lower photon energy region of about 2–4 keV could be newly obtained at the beamline. The system was applied to obtain sulphur K-edge XAFS spectra of solid and oily specimens using fluorescence yield and electron yield modes. The spectra were successfully collected. We anticipate that this new system will have various applications in environmental and biochemical research.

Flexures are enjoying a new boom in numerous high-precision and extreme-environment applications. This paper presents some general aspects of flexure design, showing simple principles, and also some subtler issues concerning kinematic design, stiffness compensation, large reduction ratios and rectilinear as well as circular movements.

One of the multiple capabilities of the new Joint Engineering, Environmental and Processing (JEEP) beamline I12 at Diamond Light Source is the set-up for polychromatic high-energy X-ray diffraction for the study of polycrystalline deformation and residual stresses. The results and interpretation of the first experiments carried out on JEEP are reported. Energy dispersive diffraction patterns from titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V were collected using the new 23-cell ‘horseshoe’ detector and interpreted using Pawley refinement to determine the residual elastic strains at the macro- and meso-scale. It provides a clear demonstration of the tensile-compressive hardening asymmetry of the hexagonal close-packed grains oriented with the basal plane perpendicular to the loading direction.

In the diffraction community, the goniometer is the main part of the diffractometer, essential for orienting the samples. To characterize the goniometer, the sphere of confusion (SoC) has been measured. The SoC describes the minimal sphere that enclosed the measurements. This essential information is very important for the diffractometer users. In collaboration with Symetrie Inc., Soleil Synchrotron and the CEA, the SoC has been measured with three different metrology methods. These three measurement techniques and the associated results are discussed in this article.

The I13 beamline of Diamond Light Source encompasses two fully independent branches devoted for coherent imaging experiments (coherent X-ray diffraction and ptychography) and X-ray imaging and tomography (full-field microscopy and in-line phase contrast imaging). This contributed paper outlines the main features of the coherence beamline and a preliminary design of the experimental station for coherent X-ray diffraction imaging.

Since 2007, we have offered single collimators for mini beams of sizes 5, 10 and 20 µm as well as a 300 µm scatter-guard to accommodate the fully focused beam. The advantages of varying the beam size were obvious, better signal/background ratio and the capability to raster with a coarse, larger beam, then fine tune with one of the mini-beam options. The mini beams proved to be a technical and popular success; however, the switching of the single collimators often involved staff intervention. The single mini-beam collimators were the precursors to the development of a triple collimator. This implementation incorporated two mini-beam collimators and a 300 µm scatter-guard on one post. The design was improved by consolidation of fabrication from a single piece of molybdenum block. It significantly improved the robustness, ease of initial alignment, reduction of background and increased automation. However, experimenters were still left with a choice of either a (5, 10 and 300 µm)- or a (10, 20 and 300 µm)-triple collimator. Recently, a quad collimator was developed and fabricated to provide a selection of mini beams of 5, 10 and 20 µm and a 300 µm scatter-guard, on a single post. We will present the mechanical design of multi-collimators, results of measured beam flux through the collimator pinholes.

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy has gained significant attention among the forensic scientists because it shows high sensitivity and selectivity, and offers near-real-time detection. Application of the multivariate statistical techniques for the analysis of the spectra is necessary in order to enable feature extraction, proper evaluation and identification of obtained spectra. In this paper we show the development of a feasible procedure for the characterization of spectroscopic signatures of the explosive materials in the remnants after explosion. In our research especially designed and prepared sample catchers were used during the blasts of three various high explosives: C-4, TNT and PETN. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed using broad spectral data range (600–4000 cm−1) for sample classification into separate classes. Most of the information contained in spectral data was compressed by PCA in few relevant principal components that explain most of the variance of spectral data. The results show that FTIR spectroscopy in combination with multivariate methods are well suited for identification and differentiation purposes even in very large data sets and could be employed by forensic laboratories for rapid screening analysis.

The orbital ordering in perovskite-type vanadium oxides, RVO3 (R: rare earth), has been investigated by resonant X-ray scattering (RXS) near the V K-edge energy. The G-type orbital order, C-type orbital order and orbital disorder phases are elucidated on the basis of the azimuthal-angle and polarization dependence of the RXS signal reflecting the orbital ordering.

The low-emittance design of the NSLS-II (a new state-of-the-art medium energy third-generation storage ring) requires that the uncorrelated vertical RMS motion between the multipole magnets on a girder be less than 25 nm. The stability of the girder–magnet assembly is affected by factors such as ambient vibration, temperature fluctuations and diurnal floor motion in the storage ring. In this paper we discuss the design features of a high-stability girder–magnet assembly for the NSLS-II.

A new X-ray absorption cell dedicated to in situ and operando experiments in heterogeneous catalysis has been built and tested. It allows measurement of X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) spectra in transmission mode under the flow of various gas mixtures at elevated temperatures (600°C) and pressures (50 bar). The working conditions are representative of phenomena that take place in fixed bed reactors.

This paper will describe the results of in situ high-energy X-ray measurements performed on stable and supercooled oxide liquids using containerless techniques. As will be discussed in the companion paper (Weber et al.), the use of an aerodynamic levitator furnace with laser heating allows the structures of refractory oxide liquids to be probed. Because of the contactless nature of this sample environment liquids can be deeply supercooled, and this provides opportunities to study the metastable structures of supercooled liquids. Of particular interest are the so-called fragile liquids that depart from Arrhenius-law viscosity behaviour and that, by definition, have temperature-dependent structures. The focus of this paper is the study of two oxide systems, MgO–SiO2 and Al2O3–SiO2. These two liquids have highly disordered stable liquid structures that differ substantially from the structures of the equivalent glasses. We present data showing how these structures change when supercooled and demonstrate dramatic changes in short-range (coordination number) and intermediate-range order during vitrification. These data have been collected by isothermal measurement and also fast quenching methods using the recently developed method of rapid acquisition using a Perkin Elmer amorphous silicon flat panel detector; this gives a large Q coverage for incident energies of >115 keV. The rapid data acquisition enables the vitrification process to be observed directly.

An instrument for X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) based on perfect crystal Bragg optics was recently commissioned at beam line ID26 of the ESRF (European Synchrotron Radiation Facility). The spectrometer is used to record high-energy resolution fluorescence-detected X-ray absorption spectra with sub-lifetime resolution and to perform resonant and non-resonant XES. The hard X-ray probe is material bulk sensitive and allows demanding sample environments (in situ chemistry, high pressure, etc.). Spectrometers for XES are being installed or designed at almost all upcoming synchrotron radiation sources worldwide. The particularity of the ID26 spectrometer is to accommodate five analyser crystals with exact Rowland tracking in the vertical plane and with crystals radii between 0.5 and 2 m.The main upgrade of the new version of this large instrument (3 tonnes, overall size 2.5 m and height 3 m) is to allow the change of the scattering angle over the range 0–180°. This involves rotating the entire spectrometer around a vertical axis that passes through the sample. In order to optimize the vibration stability of the spectrometer's structure, we chose to support the structure in multiple points and not only on three (kinematic mount) like it is specified to do with air pads. According to this choice, we have developed special foot holders for air pads.The calculations during the design phase have shown that we can obtain a first modal frequency of the spectrometer's structure at more than 30 Hz. To confirm our predictive calculations, we have performed some vibration measurements.

The beamline optics of the vacuum-ultraviolet radiation beamline installed on a bending magnet of the Swiss Light Source are to be upgraded. Supports for all three optical elements of the beamline optics (collimating mirror, plane grating monochromator and focusing mirror) have been re-designed to allow a more stable and improved fine tuning. The monochromator is composed of a set of three interchangeable gratings mounted on a rotatable platform. Each grating is framed in an optimized goniometer mount, designed and built in-house, which uses flexible elements for precise and reproducible adjustments. The roll and yaw of the gratings can be adjusted with microradian precision to minimize conical diffraction.

The ESRF has now started its upgrade programme. It has become evident from the start that upgrading beamline performance implies upgrading component performance. Beam stability is seen as a key requirement for many of the proposed beamlines, but the source of (in)stabilities can be manyfold. However, one identified source is white beam mirror, and therefore, ESRF has recently invested significant amount of engineering effort to improve white beam mirror performance. The motivation for having ‘ultra stable mirrors’ at the upgrade beamline ID24 Dispersive Exafs is analysed. The design solutions for positioning, cooling and supporting the white beam mirrors for this project are presented.

For some beamlines, where the X-ray beam is focussed to less than 100 nm spot size, it is necessary to rotate the sample using very accurate rotary axes. The accuracy of these devices is defined in terms of radial, axial and tilt errors. At the Precision Engineering Laboratory of the ESRF, we are able to calibrate rotary stages and spindles in agreement with the ISO 230-7 and ASME B89.3.4 standards, in static mode (step by step, at given position increments) or in continuous motion. This type of measurement is possible through the use of non-contact capacitive sensors (with measuring resolution in the field of the nanometre) and reference spherical artefacts, working under controlled environmental conditions to minimize the influence of thermal instabilities. The setup includes a special granite stage with a gantry, supported by an active anti-vibration system. The presentation will illustrate the measurement principle and some examples of calibrations, including results obtained on a motorized air-bearing rotary stage for which the measured errors are about 20 nm.

Optically detected X-ray absorption spectroscopy (ODXAS) and X-ray excited optical luminescence (XEOL) have been applied in parallel to the study of local bonding in luminescent diamonds. Imaging ODXAS and XEOL reveal correlations between lateral variation in colour (transmitted light and luminescence) and local carbon bonding in selected samples showing strong optical absorption contrast. Dark regions of the crystals viewed in transmitted light correlate with a lower total luminescence yield when excited with soft X-rays of photon energy ~280 eV. ODXAS reveals a higher proportion of sp2-bonded carbon species in darker (less luminescent) regions associated with graphitic micro-inclusions.

At the Diamond Light Source, adaptive bimorph mirrors are extensively used to focus synchrotron light. Piezo crystals embedded in each bimorph mirror expand or contract in response to applied voltages, enabling the curvature of the reflecting surface to adapt to the required form. However, high-grade metrology tools are needed to determine the optimal voltages. The Diamond Optics & Metrology group have implemented in situ (on the beamlines) and ex situ (in a metrology lab) methods of characterizing optical surfaces. For ex situ tests, a slope-measuring profiler (the Diamond-NOM (Nanometre Optical Metrology)) is employed. In situ, X-ray pencil beam scans, performed using an X-ray sensitive camera and software designed in-house, are used to correct optical slope errors. Ex situ and in situ data are shown to be in good agreement. Examples of in situ improvements in the focusing quality and deliberate defocusing are shown. The methods developed are also applicable to many other forms of adaptive optics.