Argonne Advanced Photon Source Research Articles

Collimator irradiation studies in the Argonne Advanced Photon Source at energy densities expected in next-generation storage ring light sources

The Advanced Photon Source (APS) team is building a fourth-generation storage ring (4GSR), replacing the present double-bend achromat lattice with a multibend achromat system thereby allowing the production of ultrabright x-ray beams. The new lattice enables a 2-order-of-magnitude reduction in horizontal beam emittance and a factor of two increase in beam current. The result is an electron beam of very high energy and power densities. Initial predictions suggest many common ultrahigh-vacuum-compatible materials struck by the full-intensity electron beam will be damaged. Two experimental beam abort studies have been conducted on collimator test pieces in the present APS SR to inform the design of a fully-functional machine protection system for APS 4GSR operations at 200 mA. A comprehensive suite of diagnostics was utilized during the studies. The diagnostics used in these experiments are not new, but employed in different ways to obtain unique data sets. With these sets now in hand, we are developing new numerical tools to guide collimator design using pelegant [M. Borland, elegant: A flexible SDDS-compliant code for accelerator simulation, Technical Report No. LS-287, Advanced Photon Source, 2000; Y. Wang and M. Borland, Implementation and performance of parallelized elegant, in Proceedings of the 2007 Particle Accelerator Conference, http://cern.ch/AccelConf/p07/PAPERS/THPAN095.PDF, pp. 3444--3446], mars [N. V. Mokhov and S. I. Striganov, Fermilab-conf-07/008-ad, AIP Conf. Proc. 896, 50 (2007)], and flash [B. Fryxell et al., flash: An adaptive mesh hydrodynamics code for modeling astrophysical thermonuclear flashes, Astrophys. J. Suppl. Ser. 131, 273 (2000); P. Tzeferacos et al., Laboratory evidence of dynamo amplification of magnetic fields in a turbulent plasma, Nat. Commun. 9, 591 (2018)].

Application of a machine learning based algorithm to online optimization of the nonlinear beam dynamics of the Argonne Advanced Photon Source

A machine learning-based optimization algorithm, the multigeneration Gaussian process optimizer, is used to optimize the nonlinear beam dynamics of the Advanced Photon Source storage ring. The dynamic aperture (DA) and the local momentum aperture (LMA) are first optimized separately with sextupole knobs. Solutions found with these optimizations are used to seed the initial population of seeds in two-objective optimizations that simultaneously optimize the DA and LMA, which lead to a distribution of solutions with different DA and LMA performances, from which a setting suitable for operation can be selected.

Billion-pixel x-ray camera (BiPC-X).

The continuing improvement in quantum efficiency (above 90% for single visible photons), reduction in noise (below 1 electron per pixel), and shrink in pixel pitch (less than 1 μm) enable billion-pixel x-ray cameras (BiPC-X) based on commercial complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) imaging sensors. We describe BiPC-X designs and prototype construction based on flexible tiling of commercial CMOS imaging sensors with millions of pixels. Device models are given for direct detection of low energy x rays (<10 keV) and indirect detection of higher energies using scintillators. Modified Birks's law is proposed for light yield non-proportionality in scintillators as a function of x-ray energy. Single x-ray sensitivity and spatial resolution have been validated experimentally using a laboratory x-ray source and the Argonne Advanced Photon Source. Possible applications include wide field-of-view or large x-ray aperture measurements in high-temperature plasmas, the state-of-the-art synchrotron, x-ray free electron laser, and pulsed power facilities.

Measuring vacuum component impedance for the Argonne Advanced Photon Source upgrade

The Advanced Photon Source plans to upgrade to a multibend achromat (MBA) lattice that will dramatically decrease the electron beam emittance, thereby enhancing the x-ray brightness by two to three orders of magnitude. Electron beam focusing in the MBA requires small-aperture vacuum components that must also have a small impedance so as to minimize rf-heating and collective instabilities. As part of this effort, this paper focuses on coupling impedance measurements and analysis of certain critical Advanced Photon Source Upgrade vacuum components. Impedance measurements of accelerator components have traditionally been done with the coaxial wire method, which is based on the fact that the Transverse Electro-Magnetic (TEM) mode of the coaxial cable can mimic the Coulomb field of a particle beam; however this measurement technique has various limitations. This paper describes our approach to measure the coupling impedance using a Goubau line (G-line), which is essentially a single wire transmission line designed to propagate Sommerfeld-like surface waves whose fundamental Transverse Magnetic (TM) mode mimics the Coulomb field of a relativistic particle beam. We describe in detail the measurement procedure that we have developed for the G-line, including the measurement setup and proper definition of a reference, measurement procedure and advantages, and our experience regarding how to reduce systematic experimental error that we learned over the course of the measurements. Starting with our initial suite of measurements and simulations designed to benchmark and validate the novel G-line based measurement technique, we present the measured results for several Advanced Photon Source Upgrade vacuum components, including those of two rf-gasket designs and the beam position monitor-bellows assembly.

Development and operating experience of a 1.2-m long helical superconducting undulator at the Argonne Advanced Photon Source

Development of superconducting undulators (SCUs) continues at the Advanced Photon Source (APS). Several planar SCUs were designed and built, and two of them are currently in operation at the APS. In January 2018 a new helical SCU (HSCU) was installed on the storage ring at the APS. It has a 1.2 m-long magnet with bifilar winding that generates on its axis a single harmonic of about 6 keV x-rays. The magnet is housed in the newly designed compact cryostat equipped with four cryocoolers. The HSCU was extensively tested prior to its installation on the APS storage ring, and it demonstrated cryogenic and magnetic performance in accordance with the design specifications. The HSCU was rapidly and successfully commissioned, and in February 2018 it was transferred to user operations. Its performance as an x-ray radiation source has been studied and spectral characteristics confirmed. The HSCU is currently used to support unique scientific program at the APS.

Modeling ion effects for the Argonne Advanced Photon Source upgrade

Ions are produced in an accelerator when the beam ionizes residual gas inside the vacuum chamber. If the beam is negatively charged, ions can become trapped in the beams potential, and their density will increase over time. Trapped ions can cause a variety of undesirable effects, including instability and emittance growth. This paper will discuss the possibility of ion trapping and instability in the APS-Upgrade storage ring. The question of where ions will be trapped is addressed using simple analytical calculations, while the instability is modeled with computer simulations. A scheme is proposed for mitigating the ion instability, by using train gaps with a high charge bunch before and after the gap to minimize rf transients. The reduction in ion density due to nonevaporable getter coating is also discussed.

Commissioning simulations for the Argonne Advanced Photon Source upgrade lattice

A hybrid seven-bend-achromat lattice that features very strong focusing elements and a relatively small vacuum chamber has been proposed for the Advanced Photon Source (APS) upgrade. The design lattice parameters during commissioning will need to be quickly achieved in order to minimize the interruption of user operation. This paper describes start-to-end simulation of the machine commissioning beginning from first-turn trajectory correction, progressing to orbit correction, and culminating in lattice correction and coupling adjustment. The automated commissioning procedure shows that the rapid commissioning of the ultralow emittance lattice is possible. It also enables a more rigorous statistical evaluation of expected performance of proposed lattices.

Heavy ion linear accelerator for radiation damage studies of materials.

A new eXtreme MATerial (XMAT) research facility is being proposed at Argonne National Laboratory to enable rapid in situ mesoscale bulk analysis of ion radiation damage in advanced materials and nuclear fuels. This facility combines a new heavy-ion accelerator with the existing high-energy X-ray analysis capability of the Argonne Advanced Photon Source. The heavy-ion accelerator and target complex will enable experimenters to emulate the environment of a nuclear reactor making possible the study of fission fragment damage in materials. Material scientists will be able to use the measured material parameters to validate computer simulation codes and extrapolate the response of the material in a nuclear reactor environment. Utilizing a new heavy-ion accelerator will provide the appropriate energies and intensities to study these effects with beam intensities which allow experiments to run over hours or days instead of years. The XMAT facility will use a CW heavy-ion accelerator capable of providing beams of any stable isotope with adjustable energy up to 1.2 MeV/u for 238U50+ and 1.7 MeV for protons. This energy is crucial to the design since it well mimics fission fragments that provide the major portion of the damage in nuclear fuels. The energy also allows damage to be created far from the surface of the material allowing bulk radiation damage effects to be investigated. The XMAT ion linac includes an electron cyclotron resonance ion source, a normal-conducting radio-frequency quadrupole and four normal-conducting multi-gap quarter-wave resonators operating at 60.625 MHz. This paper presents the 3D multi-physics design and analysis of the accelerating structures and beam dynamics studies of the linac.

Synchrotron microtomographic quantification of geometrical soil pore characteristics affected by compaction

Abstract. Soil compaction degrades soil structure and affects water, heat, and gas exchange as well as root penetration and crop production. The objective of this study was to use X-ray computed microtomography (CMT) techniques to compare differences in geometrical soil pore parameters as influenced by compaction of two different aggregate size classes. Sieved (diameter &lt; 2 mm and &lt; 0.5 mm) and repacked (1.51 and 1.72 Mg m−3) Hamra soil cores of 5 by 5 mm (average porosities were 0.44 and 0.35) were imaged at 9.6 μm resolution at the Argonne Advanced Photon Source (synchrotron facility) using X-ray CMT. Images of 58.9 mm3 volume were analyzed using 3-Dimensional Medial Axis (3-DMA) software. Geometrical characteristics of the spatial distributions of pore structures (pore radii, volume, connectivity, path length, and tortuosity) were numerically investigated. Results show that the coordination number (CN) distribution and path length (PL) measured from the medial axis were reasonably fit by exponential relationships P(CN) = 10−CN∕Co and P(PL) = 10−PL∕PLo, respectively, where Co and PLo are the corresponding characteristic constants. Compaction reduced porosity, average pore size, number of pores, and characteristic constants. The average pore radii (63.7 and 61 µm; p &lt; 0.04), largest pore volume (1.58 and 0.58 mm3; p = 0.06), number of pores (55 and 50; p = 0.09), and characteristic coordination number (3.74 and 3.94; p = 0.02) were significantly different between the low-density than the high-density treatment. Aggregate size also influenced measured geometrical pore parameters. This analytical technique provides a tool for assessing changes in soil pores that affect hydraulic properties and thereby provides information to assist in assessment of soil management systems.

MeV per nucleon ion irradiation of nuclear materials with high energy synchrotron X-ray characterization

The combination of MeV/Nucleon ion irradiation (e.g. 133 MeV Xe) and high energy synchrotron x-ray characterization (e.g. at the Argonne Advanced Photon Source, APS) provides a powerful characterization method to understand radiation effects and to rapidly screen materials for the nuclear reactor environment. Ions in this energy range penetrate ∼10 μm into materials. Over this range, the physical interactions vary (electronic stopping, nuclear stopping and added interstitials). Spatially specific x-ray (and TEM and nanoindentation) analysis allow individual quantification of these various effects. Hard x-rays provide the penetration depth needed to analyze even nuclear fuels. Here, this combination of synchrotron x-ray and MeV/Nucleon ion irradiation is demonstrated on U-Mo fuels. A preliminary look at HT-9 steels is also presented. We suggest that a hard x-ray facility with in situ MeV/nucleon irradiation capability would substantially accelerate the rate of discovery for extreme materials.

Alignment dynamics in a laser-produced plasma

We observe the time evolution of ground-state ion alignment in a laser-produced plasma. Krypton ions produced in a strong, linearly polarized optical laser field $({10}^{14}--{10}^{15}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{W}∕{\mathrm{cm}}^{2})$ are aligned along the field polarization axis. Using microfocused, tunable x rays from Argonne's Advanced Photon Source, we measure orbital alignment as a function of time. For plasma densities of the order of ${10}^{14}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$, the alignment decays within a few nanoseconds. A quantitative model explains the decay in terms of electron-ion collisions in the plasma. By applying an external magnetic field, we are able to suppress the disalignment and induce coherent spin precession of the Kr ions, thus providing an in situ monitor of magnetic fields in a plasma.

The Myosin Filament Superlattice in the Flight Muscles of Flies: A-band Lattice Optimisation for Stretch-activation?

Low-angle X-ray diffraction patterns from relaxed fruitfly ( Drosophila) flight muscle recorded on the BioCat beamline at the Argonne Advanced Photon Source (APS) show many features similar to such patterns from the “classic” insect flight muscle in Lethocerus, the giant water bug, but there is a characteristically different pattern of sampling of the myosin filament layer-lines, which indicates the presence of a superlattice of myosin filaments in the Drosophila A-band. We show from analysis of the structure factor for this lattice that the sampling pattern is exactly as expected if adjacent four-stranded myosin filaments, of repeat 116 nm, are axially shifted in the hexagonal A-band lattice by one-third of the 14.5 nm axial spacing between crowns of myosin heads. In addition, electron micrographs of Drosophila and other flies (e.g. the house fly ( Musca) and the flesh fly ( Sarcophaga)) combined with image processing confirm that the same A-band superlattice occurs in all of these flies; it may be a general property of the Diptera. The different A-band organisation in flies compared with Lethocerus, which operates at a much lower wing beat frequency (∼30 Hz) and requires a warm-up period, may be a way of optimising the myosin and actin filament geometry needed both for stretch activation at the higher wing beat frequencies (50 Hz to 1000 Hz) of flies and their need for a rapid escape response.

Study of the microgeometry of porous materials using synchrotron computed microtomography

Abstract A series of measurements of the structure of a variety of porous materials has been made using synchrotron computed microtomography (SCMT). The work was carried out at the Brookhaven National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS), the Argonne Advanced Photon Source (APS) and the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF). The experiments at Brookhaven and Argonne were carried out on bending magnet beam lines using area detectors to obtain CT images based on determination of X-ray absorption coefficients. The work at the ESRF used an undulator beam line, a 13 KeV pencil X-ray beam of 2 µm and an energy dispersive X-ray detector to make tomographic sections of trace element distributions by X-ray fluorescence tomography. Most of the work was done with a pixel/voxel size ranging from 0.002 to 0.010 mm. We examined the structure of unconsolidated estuarine sediments, whose structure is relevant to transport of contaminants in rivers and estuaries. Fluorescent tomography with 2–3 µm resolution was used to ascertain whether or not metals were concentrated on the surface or throughout the volume of a single sediment particle. Sandstone samples were investigated to obtain a set of values describing their microstructures that could be useful in fluid flow calculations relevant to petroleum recovery or transport of environmental contaminants. Measurements were also made on sandstone samples that had been subjected to high-pressure compression to investigate the relation between the microgeometry and the magnitude of the applied pressure. Finally, a Wood’s metal-filled sample was scanned for demonstration of resolution enhancement and fluid flow studies.

Spatially resolved small-angle x-ray scattering studies of soot inception and growth

The high spectral brilliance of x-rays produced at the Basic Energy Sciences Synchrotron Radiation Center of Argonne's Advanced Photon Source allows us to perform small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements of the distributions of soot particles in flames. SAXS provides an in situ probe of the size and distribution of particles in the region between 1 and 100 nm. Detailed measurements on a propylene/air diffusion flame allow us to extract a spatially dependent background, which occurs in gas-phase combustion systems, and to perform Abel inversions, which provide the radial dependence of the scattering intensity. A bimodal distribution of soot particles is needed to describe our results. The radial behavior of the two modes of this distribution implies that the chemistry and fluid dynamics are strongly coupled in this simple diffusion flame. The larger particles of this distribution correspond to the previously observed primary particles, which have a relatively complex radial dependence. Midway between the fuel source and the widest part of the flame, the primary particles have a mean radius of 6 nm or less and their concentration is symmetrically distributed about the flame front. At the widest part of the flame, two distinct distributions of primary particles are observed. Near the center of the flame, the particles have a mean radius of 10 nm and a polydispersity of 0.3 and beyond a transition region they have a mean radius of 21 nm and a polydispersity of 0.2. The smaller particles, which require additional experiments before they can be identified, correspond to soot nuclei, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon species such as naphthalene, and/or disordered carbons with graphitic basal planes.

Small-angle X-ray studies of soot inception and growth

The high spectral intensity of X-rays produced by the undulator at the Basic Energy Sciences Synchrotron Radiation Center of Argonne's Advanced Photon Source has allowed us to perform small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) studies of the initial distribution of soot particles formed by various fuels. SAXS provides an in situ probe of the morphology of soot in the region between 1 and 100 nm and complements the ex situ technique of electron microscopy. The basic aspects of SAXS and its potential are illustrated with measurement on a laminar flame of acetylene in air. The more complex fuel toluene has been studied in a flat-flame burner that supports a CH4/H2/air or CO/H2/air diffusion flame stabilized by N2 co-flow. This burner produces a nearly constant temperature region above the flame where the pyrolysis and combustion of the heavier fuels occurs. Kinetic information is obtained by performing measurements of the scattered intensity profile as a function of the height above the burner. These profiles have been reduced to give the mean radius and dispersion of a distribution of spherical particles. Mean radii between 0.8 and 18 nm have been observed. The smallest of these is a factor of ten smaller than previously detected with Lorentz-Mie scattering. Near 1550 K, the soot distribution found in toluene shows a distinct step behavior that is consistent with model calculations.

Characteristics and crystal structure of bacterial inosine-5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase.

IMP dehydrogenase (IMPDH) is an essential enzyme that catalyzes the first step unique to GTP synthesis. To provide a basis for the evaluation of IMPDH inhibitors as antimicrobial agents, we have expressed and characterized IMPDH from the pathogenic bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes. Our results show that the biochemical and kinetic characteristics of S. pyogenes IMPDH are similar to other bacterial IMPDH enzymes. However, the lack of sensitivity to mycophenolic acid and the Km for NAD (1180 microM) exemplify some of the differences between the bacterial and mammalian IMPDH enzymes, making it an attractive target for antimicrobial agents. To evaluate the basis for these differences, we determined the crystal structure of the bacterial enzyme at 1.9 A with substrate bound in the catalytic site. The structure was determined using selenomethionine-substituted protein and multiwavelength anomalous (MAD) analysis of data obtained with synchrotron radiation from the undulator beamline (19ID) of the Structural Biology Center at Argonne's Advanced Photon Source. S. pyogenes IMPDH is a tetramer with its four subunits related by a crystallographic 4-fold axis. The protein is composed of two domains: a TIM barrel domain that embodies the catalytic framework and a cystathione beta-synthase (CBS) dimer domain of so far unknown function. Using information provided by sequence alignments and the crystal structure, we prepared several site-specific mutants to examine the role of various active site regions in catalysis. These variants implicate the active site flap as an essential catalytic element and indicate there are significant differences in the catalytic environment of bacterial and mammalian IMPDH enzymes. Comparison of the structure of bacterial IMPDH with the known partial structures from eukaryotic organisms will provide an explanation of their distinct properties and contribute to the design of specific bacterial IMPDH inhibitors.

Structural genomics taking shape

The Workshop on Structural Genomics: Understanding Proteins Universal to Life, organized by Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) at Argonne's Advanced Photon Source Auditorium, 23–25 January 1998.

Charge-coupled device/fiber optic taper array x-ray detector for protein crystallography

A large area charge-coupled device (CCD) based fiber optic taper array detector (APS-1) is installed at the insertion-device beamline of the Structural Biology Center at the Argonne Advanced Photon Source x-ray synchrotron. The detector is used in protein crystallography diffraction experiments, where the objective is to measure the position and intensity of x-ray Bragg peaks in diffraction images. Large imaging area, very high spatial resolution, high x-ray sensitivity, good detective quantum efficiency, low noise, wide dynamic range, excellent stability and short readout time are all fundamental requirements in this application. The APS-1 detector converts the 2-D x-ray patterns to visible light images by a thin layer of x-ray sensitive phosphor. The phosphor coating is directly deposited on the large ends of nine fiber optic tapers arranged in a 3{times}3 array. Nine, thermoelectrically cooled 1024{times}1024pixel CCDs image the patterns, demagnified by the tapers. After geometrical and uniformity corrections, the nine areas give a continuous image of the detector face with virtually no gaps between the individual tapers. The 18 parallel analog signal-processing channels and analog-to-digital converters ensure short readout time and low readout noise. We discuss the design and measured performance of the detector. {copyright} {ital 1998 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentationmore » Engineers.}{ital Key words:} charge-coupled device; fiber optic taper; x-ray diffraction; crystallography; imaging detector. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers}« less

Amorphous silicon, semiconductor X-ray converter detectors for protein crystallography

Hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) is a semiconductor material which can be inexpensively deposited to create a large array detector or readout structure. Combining it with a suitable semiconductor X-ray sensitive converter would produce a large, sensitive detector for X-rays with energies of 6–20 keV such as used in measurements of diffraction patterns for protein crystallography. In these experiments, the diffraction patterns created when X-rays strike crystallized protein samples are used to infer the physical structure of the molecules. The requirements for the detector include the ability to record signal peaks to high diffraction order to obtain accurate mapping of the electron density of the protein molecule, plus rapid sampling of the diffraction pattern to minimize radiation dose to the exposed crystal, while maintaining high signal-to-noise ratios. In this paper we summarize our results to date measuring and modeling the suitability of various semiconductor thin films for direct X-ray detection, and of the noise and readout properties of an amorphous silicon matrix array. We provide sample diffraction patterns obtained from a protein crystal taken at the Argonne Advanced Photon Source X-ray synchrotron using a phosphor coated a-Si: H array.

Design of the angiography beamline for the Argonne Advanced Photon Source

The angiography beamline planned for the Argonne Advanced Photon Source (APS) is a very special beamline dedicated to medical imaging. It is especially designed to enhance the art of digital subtraction angiography. It is different from the angiography beamlines presently in operation that scan the X-ray picture line by line, in that it will take both the high and low energy angiography X-ray pixtures simultaneously as full frame pictures. Pictures with 0.25 mm resolution and good signal to noise will be possible with 2 ms exposure times. This is possible because of the increase in flux that is available at the APS. The source of the 33 keV photons is a special high intensity wiggler. The photon beam is separated into two parts, spread out in the vertical direction, and monochro- matized with two convex bent crystals. These two crystals are bent in a non-uniform way that allows one to both make the photon flux uniform over the 15 cm × 15 cm examining area and stabilize the shape of the surface of the diffraction crystal against distortion caused by the heat load on the crystal. Most of the energy of the photon beam is absorbed by a fast shutter placed in front of the crystals. The two images at the two different energies are recorded in two large position-sensitive detectors.