Abstract
Although remote access to beamline synchrotron facilities is now a common operation mode at macromolecular crystallography beamlines thanks to substantial efforts in automated processes for sample preparation and handling, experiment planning and analysis, this is still not the case for XAFS beamlines. Here the experience and developments undertaken at LNLS and Diamond in automation are described, in an attempt to tackle the specific challenges posed by the high variability in experimental conditions and configurations that XAFS measurements require.
Highlights
The rapid progress in synchrotron radiation source technology is providing brighter and smaller beams at new facilities such as Sirius (Liu et al, 2014) and MAX IV (Eriksson et al, 2013), while several third-generation sources (ESRF, APS, Diamond, SLAC, etc.) are in the process of evaluating, designing or planning upgrades in the same direction
We are currently developing a procedure for an automatic energy calibration in parallel with other algorithms aimed at reducing the time needed for optimizing the beamline optics: principally mirror adjustment, crystal monochromator parallelism checks and harmonics rejection mechanisms
To maximize the photon flux provided over the whole energy range, it is necessary to adjust the double-crystal monochromator (DCM) parallelism
Summary
The rapid progress in synchrotron radiation source technology is providing brighter and smaller beams at new facilities such as Sirius (Liu et al, 2014) and MAX IV (Eriksson et al, 2013), while several third-generation sources (ESRF, APS, Diamond, SLAC, etc.) are in the process of evaluating, designing or planning upgrades in the same direction. Numerous steps of the measurement process (including sample preparation, beamline alignment, edge changes, detector optimization, etc.) are common to all such beamlines and can be automated This development has a clear impact not limited to the remote access mode; the algorithms for optimization of the optics and detection systems can be immediately applied to conventional ‘local access’ experiments. Automated procedures help in addition to pursue an intense program of rapid-access experiments, usually run by the beamline staff, which is very effective scientifically and supports a very broad range of science areas These beamtime access requests are limited to a restricted number of measurements not requiring special sample conditions. 954 Santiago Jose Alejandro Figueroa et al XAFS beamline automation and remote access
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