Abstract
The development of low-emittance storage rings and the rapid developments in nano-optics and imaging techniques are leading to decreasing X-ray spot sizes and increasing requirements on the environmental and mechanical stability of beamline components. In particular, temperature stability in the experimental hutches is critical to minimize uncontrolled displacements caused by thermal expansion and ensure consistent performance. Here, the design and thermal performance of the experimental hutches of the Nanoprobe beamline at Diamond Light Source are described, where a standard deviation of the room temperature down to 0.017°C over extended periods is demonstrated. The rooms are kept at constant temperature using water-cooled radiant panels which line the ceiling and walls. Radiant panels are relatively common in high-end electron microscopy rooms, but this is the first demonstration of their use for fine temperature control in an X-ray hutch and may provide a useful basis for future upgrades at upcoming low-emittance sources.
Highlights
Scanning X-ray microscopy is a widely implemented technique at synchrotrons worldwide because of its potential for high spatial resolution and its versatility to probe physical and chemical properties of the sample simultaneously
The sensors are a mixture of K-type thermocouples and Pt-100 sensors and are all monitored from the same instrument
We have presented a novel strategy to achieve very high temperature stability in X-ray hutches
Summary
Scanning X-ray microscopy is a widely implemented technique at synchrotrons worldwide because of its potential for high spatial resolution and its versatility to probe physical and chemical properties of the sample simultaneously. In the hard X-ray regime, the term ‘nanoprobe’ has been coined to refer to beamlines where the beam size is significantly smaller than half a micrometre Several such facilities exist worldwide and more are being built or designed to meet the strong demand for these instruments. In terms of technological development, the main obstacle to achieving higher spatial resolution remains the difficulty of fabricating nano-focusing optics (Ice et al, 2011), be it zone plates, multi-layer Laue lenses, silicon compound refractive lenses or KB mirrors As all these technologies currently enable beam sizes of 30 nm or less, the choice is dictated by other aspects, such as the balance between focused spot size and focal length of the optic. We start with a brief discussion on the stability requirements, followed by a description of structural aspects including vibration, our solution to achieve high thermal stability, and results of the hutches at maximum heat load as well as during normal operation
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