Current Status of ABBIX Beamlines Developed for X-Ray Scattering and Macromolecular Crystallography at NSLS-II

Abstract

We present the current development status of the Advanced Beamlines for Biological Investigations with X-rays (ABBIX) at NSLS-II. This NIH-funded project includes an x-ray scattering beamline (LIX) and two macromolecular crystallography beamlines (FMX and AMX). User operations are scheduled to begin in 2016.Facilitating x-ray scattering studies on proteins in solution, lipid membranes and biological tissues, the High Brightness X-ray Scattering for Life Sciences beamline - LIX - will be equipped with a single long undulator (IVU23). Via a two-stage demagnification scheme it will produce beams down to a size of ∼1 µm, and up to several hundred microns. With a broad energy range of 2.1 - 18 keV (0.7 - 5.9 A) and capable of simultaneously collecting data on 3 detectors, it will support a variety of x-ray scattering measurements.In the neighboring sector are the pair of MX beamlines, equipped with two identical canted undulators (IVU21). The beamlines' specializations are complementary. The Frontier Microfocusing Macromolecular Crystallography - FMX - will deliver a high photon flux of 1013 ph/s at the Se K-edge into a spot of 1 µm width. It will cover a broad energy range from 5 - 30 keV, corresponding to wavelengths from 0.4 - 2.5 A. Beam sizes up to 50 µm will be available. The Highly Automated Macromolecular Crystallography - AMX - will be optimized for high throughput applications, with beam sizes from 4 - 100 µm and an energy range of 5 −18 keV (0.7 - 2.5 A). Together, FMX and AMX will cover a broad range of applications from serial crystallography on micron sized crystals, over very large unit cell complexes, to rapid sample screening, e.g. for ligand binding studies.