Bimorph Actuator: a New Instrument for Time-Resolved X-ray Diffraction and Spectroscopy

Abstract

A new approach to time-resolved X-Ray experiments implementation at both laboratory X-Ray sources and synchrotron facilities is presented. A time resolution of few milliseconds per one rocking curve measurement can be reached by using a new X-Ray optics element – vibrating bimorph actuator based on a bidomain bending-type crystal of lithium niobate. The ranges of X-Ray beam angular or energy changeover are defined by the actuator operational mode and resonant response. The time and spatial parameters for X-ray optical element based on bimorph actuator have been estimated. The ranges of actuator angular changeover in a dynamical mode at various frequencies (including resonance) of bidomain crystal vibrations have reached up to 100 arcseconds in а quasistatic mode and more than 500 arcseconds in а resonance mode at the control voltage of 22 V and vibration frequency up to 8 kHz (which corresponds to time resolution of 0.125 milliseconds). The numerical algorithms for processing of the experimental data measured using the bimorph optical element have been developed. The examples of X-Ray beam angular changeover reached in different actuator vibration modes and possible application of such approach are presented in the work.