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.

The precision ball-bearing- or roller-bearing-based stage systems provide large travel range. However, they have difficulties in meeting subnanometre resolution, high tilting stiffness and high straightness of trajectory with a single guiding system. It is always a dream to have a compact single flexure stage to cover a large travel range with very high positioning resolution. Based on an advanced structure design with the laminar overconstrained weak-link technique, we have designed and constructed a two-dimensional linear precision weak-link stage system for nanopositioning of a specimen holder for the linear multilayer Laue lenses test setup at the Advanced Photon Source Sector 26. This system provides subnanometre resolution, coupled with subnanometre metrology at a travel range of several millimetres. The two-dimensional weak-link stage system is designed with high structure stiffness using laminar overconstrained weak-link mechanisms. In this paper we present the preliminary test results of a linear precision weak-link stage system with subcentimetre travel range and subnanometre positioning resolution.

We have synthesized nickel by means of pulsed laser ablation. A nickel disc was used for ablation with the focused output of fundamental harmonic from Nd:YAG laser. X-ray diffraction result shows that the synthesized nanoparticles are of pure metallic nickel with a face-centred cubic structure and the average particle size is 35 nm. The extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) studies of pure nickel foil and the synthesized nanoparticles show similar structures. The position of the main peak is same in these nanoparticles with reference to the nickel foil. The only difference was observed in the reduction of the amplitude. The nearest-neighbour distance is similar as for pure nickel foil. The Debye–Waller factor is also similar. There is no trace of oxide and hydroxide in the EXAFS data, suggesting that the synthesized nanoparticles contain only nickel metal.

The engineering of a dual-cryostat for a pulsed-magnet instrument at the Advanced Photon Source is presented. The dual-cryostat independently cools the magnet coil (using liquid-nitrogen) and the sample (using a closed-cycle refrigerator). Liquid-nitrogen cooling may allow a repetition rate of a few minutes for peak fields near 30 T. The system is unique in that the liquid-nitrogen cryostat incorporates a double-funnel vacuum tube passing through the solenoid's bore in order to preserve the entire angular range allowed by the magnet bore for scattering studies. Second, the use of a separate refrigerator for the sample allows precise positioning of samples in the bore while minimizing magnet vibrations propagating to the sample during pulsed-field generation.

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.

We report here an extensive study of the ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) capped with different organic molecules by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) methods to proceed in the understanding of their unusual magnetism. We have performed a detailed ab initio calculation of the Zn K-edge XAS aimed at determining the influence of the different coordination induced by the capping. The results suggest that the observed differences of the XAS spectra are due to the formation of a well-defined interface between the oxide NPs and the capping molecules. The appearance of magnetism should be related to the modifications induced in the NPs by the surface bonds between Zn and the capping molecule.

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.

The Canadian Light Source far infrared (IR) beamline uses seven mirrors to transport the IR light to the spectrometer experimental station (May et al. 2006). A new mirror mount provides more stability and precision control of mirror alignment. The design uses a gimbal arrangement that reflects the IR beam through 90°. Internal motor actuators for 2° of angular rotation (pitch and roll) and 1° of translation drive the mount. The two independent rotation axes intersect at the mirror centre to minimize translation offset when rotated. Translation along the incoming beam axis allows focus adjustment of the elliptical mirrors mounted. Beam steering using closed loop control with position feedback is precise and repeatable. Piezo-actuator tilting mirrors in an active optics system use this gimbal design for mounting. The design is compact and scales to the size of the mirror to be mounted; this allows installing new components into the existing chambers. We present features of the mount that include in-vacuum operation (Ultra High Vacuum (UHV) possible with change of motor type), economic materials and ability to handle heavy elements of 33 kg or more.

The ESRF upgrade programme includes a number of extended beamlines in which instrumentation stability, be it mechanical or thermal, will be of utmost importance. Significant efforts are being made at every stage of design to increase stiffness and minimize thermal drift, but a thermally stable environment would greatly facilitate instrument conception and enhance overall performance. A numerical model of the most stable existing ESRF experimental hutch is detailed. With the aim to enhance thermal performance of future ‘nano hutches’, several optimization studies, both spatial and transient, have been performed on this model. Results from these studies and associated recommendations for future nano hutch design improvements are presented.

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.

Taiwan Photon Source (TPS) is under construction at the National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center (NSRRC). This 518 m circumference synchrotron accelerator will generate 3 GeV and 500 mA high-energy X-rays. Absorbers in the storage ring will receive relatively high power densities (at a distance of 2.2 m from the dipole source). Three types of crotch absorbers for B1–B3 storage chambers were designed and prototyped. An end absorber in B3 is also designed and implemented to protect the downstream components in the chamber from being heated by the synchrotron radiation. Intensive vacuum brazing between Oxygen Free High Conductivity copper (OFHC) and stainless steel was carried out while fabricating the absorber assembly. The analysis, design and construction of several absorbers are reported in this paper.

A harmonic rejection mirror (HRM) can apply pure spectrum for X-ray Absorption Spectrum (XAFS) experiment. The HRM mechanism includes a mirror holding system, a horizontal switch system and a three-point adjustment system. We analyse and calculate the design of the mechanism. Finally, we evaluate the HRM capability based on the rocking curve obtained in a test.

A vacuum system of 3 GeV Taiwan photon source (TPS, with circumference 518.4 m), is designed for low-outgassing aluminium beam ducts, low-impedance structure, oil-less pumping system and oil-less fabrication. A prototype (total length 14 m) of the TPS vacuum system has been fabricated. This one-cell prototype vacuum system consists of two bending-magnet chambers (~4 m long each), two straight chambers (~3 m long each), supporting stands, five beam positioning monitors and pumps. Two bending-magnet chambers were made by computer-numerical control machining, which was lubricated with ethanol to protect the surface from oil contamination. Next, these two bending chambers were cleaned with ozonated water to decrease the rate of thermal outgassing and photo-stimulated desorption. The rest chambers were also cleaned by chemical cleaning method. An automatic welding system then was used to implement the side-welding seams of bending chambers in a temperature- and humidity-controlled cleanroom. The bending and straight chambers were welded into one piece by ‘on-site welding’. After baking at 150°C for 24 h, an optimizing pressure could be achieved at 4.9 nPa.

Taiwan Photon Source is now under construction at NSRRC Taiwan. In order to maintain the Taiwan Light Source (TLS) for normal operation, a hydrostatic levelling system and precision inclination sensor (Leica Nivel 220) were installed both in the storage ring and beamlines to monitor ground deformation arising. This paper presents the monitoring system setup and the circumstances of ground deformation including vertical settlement and floor inclination during the ground breaking period to provide a criterion for TLS operation.

A high-energy elliptically polarizing undulator (EPU) and a low-energy EPU are designed to share a single C style supporting structure. Each of the EPUs is 4 m in length. Finite-element analyses (FEA) are performed to choose the proper girder style and section size and to verify the components' strength and deflection. The most difficult challenges are the huge three dimensional magnetic forces on high-energy EPU and the space limitation for the two EPUs. In total the whole structure has 18 ball screw drive systems. A total of 30 sets of linear bearings are used in the structure.

In high-accuracy motion stages, the positioning accuracy at the point of interest is strongly influenced by guiding errors: for translation motions, straightness errors and angular errors (pitch, yaw and roll); for rotation motions, axial, radial and tilt errors. When air bearings are used for guiding, the air film averages out local irregularities of bearings surfaces, which helps reduce guiding errors considerably. Some results obtained with air bearing precision systems designed and manufactured by specialized companies and tested at ESRF are described below.

European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in-house designed Kirkpatrick–Baez (KB) focusing systems have been extensively used for high efficiency beam focusing over the past years. More recently however, increasing interest in nanofocusing techniques has directed our development efforts towards more compact, higher stability designs for dynamic focusing systems in which the optimization of numerous parameters enables mirror bending approaching its mechanical limits. Simultaneously, progress in fixed focus mirror fabrication techniques – notably ion beam figuring, differential deposition and elastic emission machining – now make the fabrication of highly elliptical, fixed focus X-ray optics an interesting option. This has simplified conception (no bending mechanics) which in turn has led to the design of miniaturized KBs.

A general overview of these recent developments in both dynamic bending and fixed focus KB systems is presented.

Finite-element analysis (FEA) is utilized to model the temperature distribution and heat-induced deformation of the first mirror of the coherent soft X-ray beamline at NSLS-II. The FEA results of the cooling design show a thermal bump on the area illuminated by the beam plus an overall mirror bending. The resulting slope errors are almost linear over the area where the power is absorbed and have a complex dependence on the mirror thickness. The linear change of the slope error means a constant convex radius of curvature whose defocusing effect can be corrected with a bendable mirror positioned downstream in the beamline. In this paper we discuss the design optimization of the mirror thickness using FEA as a tool.

The beam position monitors (BPMs) with submicron-level resolution act as the major eyes of storage ring in detecting the position of electron beams and are used for feedback system to guide the beam orbit to the desired track. Compared to major improvements on backend electronics, the physical devices generate and transmit signals had little improvement due to the lack of control on manufacturing processes including all mechanical tolerance requirements. The design started with ANSYS to simulate mechanical deformation. Due to the small size (submillimetre) and complicated assembly of feedthrough structure, it is difficult to achieve 1 % tolerance (submicron) in all aspects including machining and brazing. The smallest tolerance for machining is 5 µ and the overall tolerance will be 30 µm. The influence of the tolerance on mechanical will be shown on time-domain reflectometry measurement. The resulted heat-related issue will also be discussed and addressed since the problem happened at SLAC (private communication with Albert Sheng at Stanford Linear Accelerator Center) and DIAMOND (presented at the RF Button Heating Mini-Workshop at EPAC 2008). Manufacturing steps will be described. The consequence of mismatch on manufacturing will be discussed. All related measurement and simulation data are presented in this paper.

A new design for a polychromator Bragg bender at ID24 Dispersive EXAFS beamline (ESRF) shows improvements in stability, in the shape of the bent crystal and in the efficiency of adjustments to find the best focal spot.