Double Crystal Monochromator Research Articles

Active vibration isolation support platform for double crystal monochromator

The quality of the beamline at a synchrotron light source is directly related to the performance of the double crystal monochromator. This paper presents a designed active vibration isolation support platform for the double-crystal monochromator to meet the higher stability demands of advancing synchrotron light sources. The platform has good decoupling characteristics through the redundant structure of eight actuators mixed with active and passive. A vibration isolation control scheme is designed based on distributed degrees of freedom and a feed-forward feedback composite control scheme to ensure high stiffness of the support platform while achieving full-band vibration isolation. Finally, constructed a verification platform for an active vibration isolation system and verified the effectiveness of the proposed control method through experiments. With the designed active vibration isolation algorithm, the system can achieve full-band vibration isolation within the 1–100 Hz bandwidth.

Research on an Active Adjustment Mechanism Based on Non-Singular Terminal Sliding Mode and Finite-Time Disturbance Observer

With the continuous development of synchrotron radiation light sources, higher requirements have been put forward for the stability of double-crystal monochromators in synchrotron radiation facilities. This paper designs an active adjustment mechanism for a double-crystal monochromator to improve its stability. Firstly, three spatial degrees of freedom are designed based on the active adjustment mechanism of flexible leaf spring parallel coupling, and the prototype of the mechanism is fabricated. Secondly, system identification experiments are carried out and the system transfer function curve is fitted by the nonlinear least squares method. Thirdly, the controller based on non-singular terminal sliding modes and a finite-time disturbance observer was designed for stability control and disturbance compensation. Finally, the effectiveness of the controller is verified by a model-in-the-loop approach based on the performance of the real-time target machine. The results show that the non-singular terminal sliding mode + finite-time disturbance observer control strategy can reduce the RMS value of the vibration displacement of Axis-1/Axis-2/Axis-3 by 81.25%, 78.53%, and 71.82%.

New opportunities for high pressure X-ray absorption spectroscopy at ID24-DCM and BM23 with the Extremely Brilliant Source of the ESRF

ABSTRACT Here we present the new experimental stations devoted to the studies of matter under extreme conditions at the X-ray absorption beamlines BM23 and ID24-DCM that were recently refurbished within the ESRF – Extremely Brilliant Source (EBS) upgrade program. In comparison with the stations before the EBS upgrade, they exhibit outstanding performances in terms of sample positioning capabilities, acceptance of multi-detection systems and complex sample environments. In addition, significant improvements regarding the photon flux and focusing capabilities down to the submicron size have been achieved. These stations are now coupled with the new ESRF double crystal monochromators that exhibit an exceptional beam position and energy stability and that permit quick micro-EXAFS measurements down to one EXAFS/second, and hyperspectral EXAFS mapping. In this contribution, we discuss the choices regarding the sample and detector stages and illustrate the potential of the new setups for extreme conditions studies based on selected preliminary results.

Polarized neutron imaging at NeXT (neutron and x-ray tomograph) at Institut Laue Langevin.

This work describes the implementation of polarized neutron imaging capabilities at the neutron and x-ray tomograph (NeXT) imaging station of the Institut Laue Langevin. This development enhances the capacity of this instrument to study advanced magnetic materials, which are crucial in a variety of engineering applications. Here, the feasibility of polarized neutron imaging at NeXT is demonstrated by visualizing the magnetic field generated by a simple bar magnet. The use of a double-crystal monochromator for wavelength-resolved imaging is also shown to enable both quantitative and qualitative analyses of magnetic materials. This is demonstrated through the determination of magnetization strength in a sample of electric steel (FeSi) in addition to the distribution of its components. Polarimetric imaging is also implemented for the first time to characterize the magnetic field generated by a current-carrying cylindrical wire. These findings collectively underscore the value of incorporating polarized neutron imaging into the already cutting-edge imaging station.

PINK: a tender X-ray beamline for X-ray emission spectroscopy.

A high-flux beamline optimized for non-resonant X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) in the tender X-ray energy range has been constructed at the BESSY II synchrotron source. The beamline utilizes a cryogenically cooled undulator that provides X-rays over the energy range 2.1 keV to 9.5 keV. This energy range provides access to XES [and in the future X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS)] studies of transition metals ranging from Ti to Cu (Kα, Kβ lines) and Zr to Ag (Lα, Lβ), as well as light elements including P, S, Cl, K and Ca (Kα, Kβ). The beamline can be operated in two modes. In PINK mode, a multilayer monochromator (E/ΔE ≃ 30-80) provides a high photon flux (1014 photons s-1 at 6 keV and 300 mA ring current), allowing non-resonant XES measurements of dilute substances. This mode is currently available for general user operation. X-ray absorption near-edge structure and resonant XAS techniques will be available after the second stage of the PINK commissioning, when a high monochromatic mode (E/ΔE ≃ 10000-40000) will be facilitated by a double-crystal monochromator. At present, the beamline incorporates two von Hamos spectrometers, enabling time-resolved XES experiments with time scales down to 0.1 s and the possibility of two-color XES experiments. This paper describes the optical scheme of the PINK beamline and the endstation. The design of the two von Hamos dispersive spectrometers and sample environment are discussed here in detail. To illustrate, XES spectra of phosphorus complexes, KCl, TiO2 and Co3O4 measured using the PINK setup are presented.

Research on the Mechanism of Flow-Induced Vibration in the Cooling System of a Double Crystal Monochromator

To investigate the mechanism of flow-induced vibrations in the cooling system of a double crystal monochromator (DCM), this paper utilizes a multi-physics numerical simulation approach, employing ANSYS and FLUENT platforms to simulate the flow state of liquid nitrogen in the cooling system and explore the amplitude response of the DCM. Initially, simulations were conducted to examine the flow state of liquid nitrogen with varying frequency and amplitude pulsations. Subsequently, modal analysis was employed to investigate the amplitude response of the DCM in the pitch direction vibrations under pulsating excitation. Finally, this research investigated the influence of high heat load-induced liquid nitrogen boiling on a DCM. The results indicate that pipe resistance is the fundamental cause of vibration induced by pulsating excitation. Low-frequency excitation enhances the amplification factor of DCM vibration. In contrast, due to the rapid conversion of fluid kinetic energy to pressure potential energy, high-frequency excitation increases the pulsation amplitude in the pipe. Additionally, there is a linear relationship between the amplitude of liquid nitrogen velocity fluctuations and the response amplitude of a DCM. The slug flow formed after liquid nitrogen boiling generates low-frequency pulse signals, and intermittent fluid impacts cause significant vibrations in the DCM. These research findings provide a reference for the analysis and design of ultra-high-stability DCM cooling systems.

Increased spatial coherence length from an asymmetric crystal reflection at grazing exit.

Coherent X-ray imaging is an active field at synchrotron sources. The images rely on the available coherent flux over a limited field of view. At many synchrotron beamlines a double-crystal monochromator (DCM) is employed in a standard nondispersive arrangement. For coherent diffraction imaging it is advantageous to increase the available field of view by increasing the spatial coherence length (SCL) of a beam exiting such a DCM. Here, Talbot interferometry data together with ray-tracing simulations for a (+ - - +) four-reflection experimental arrangement are presented, wherein the first two reflections are in the DCM and the final fourth reflection is asymmetric at grazing exit. Analyses of the interferometry data combined with the simulations show that compared with the beam exiting the DCM a gain of 76% in the SCL was achieved, albeit with a factor of 20 reduction in flux density, which may not be a severe penalty at a synchrotron beamline. Previous efforts reported in the literature to increase the SCL that employed asymmetric crystal diffraction at grazing incidence are also discussed. A much reduced SCL is found presently in simulations wherein the same asymmetric crystal is set for grazing incidence instead of grazing exit. In addition, the present study is compared and contrasted with two other means of increasing the SCL. These are (i) focusing the beam onto an aperture to act as a secondary source, and (ii) allowing the beam to propagate in vacuum an additional distance along the beamline.

Research and optimization of flow-induced vibrations in a water-cooled monochromator.

To enhance the stability of the water-cooled double-crystal monochromator used at the BL17B beamline of the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility (SSRF), a study was conducted to optimize its cooling system's flow-induced vibration. Through simulation and experimental verification, the researchers analyzed the vibration mechanism and implemented improvement measures. The results indicate that the elastic bellows greatly amplify flow-induced vibration, transmitting it to the first-crystal. By positioning the bellows closer to the crystal, the relative pitch angular vibration of the double-crystal was reduced by 17.5%, and the roll angular vibration decreased by 6.1%. Furthermore, changing the flow rate from 3 to 2.4 l/min further diminished the relative pitch angular vibration by 6.0% and the roll angular vibration by 7.9%. By effectively reducing flow-induced vibration in the water-cooled double-crystal monochromator, equipment stability is enhanced, and the relative angular vibration of the double-crystal has been reduced. This research provides a valuable method and approach for optimizing the stability of the monochromator and related equipment.

Absolute calibration of the spectral sensitivity of an x-ray streak camera over the 0.1-10keV spectral range equipped with CsI photocathode.

In this paper, we report the absolute measurement of the spectral sensitivity of a bilamellar tube x-ray streak camera (XRSC) over the 0.1-10keV range equipped with a CsI photocathode for Laser MégaJoule (LMJ) fusion experiments. This calibration of the XRSC is performed in static mode by using two multi-anode x-ray generators. Two silicon drift detectors (SDDs) previously calibrated at the Physikalisch-Technische-Bundesanstalt radiometric laboratory are used as secondary standards. Both x-ray generators work with a specific monochromator for radiometric measurements. In the sub-keV region, a 1 m-grazing incidence Rowland geometry monochromator specifically developed to handle LMJ's x-ray camera is used, whereas for higher energies (>2keV), a double-crystal monochromator is employed. The absolute spectral sensitivity of the XRSC is obtained by comparing the CCD counts of the XRSC output with the output counts in x-ray lines recorded by the SDD. The results obtained below 1.2keV are, to our knowledge, the first measurements of the spectral sensitivity of an XRSC in the soft x-ray range with a CsI photocathode. Comparison with a model describing the spectral dependence of the sensitivity of the XRSC revealed that measurements obtained in the sub-keV region are greater than expected, whereas they agree with the model above 4.5keV. There may be several contributors to this behavior, including the grain morphology of the CsI layer and exposure to air.

A dedicated application of evolutionary algorithms: synchrotron X-ray radiation optimization based on an in-vacuum undulator

Following the rapid growth in accelerator-based light sources research since the mid of 20th century, miscellaneous third generation synchrotron radiation (SR) facilities such as SSRL, APS, ESRF, PETRA-III, and SPring-8 have come into existence. These SR source facilities provide 1020–1025 photons/s/mrad2/mm2/0.1%BW peak brightness within the photon energy range of 10–105 eV. Since different measurement techniques are utilized at X-ray beamlines of SR facilities, many kinds of insertion devices (i.e., undulators and wigglers) and optical components (e.g., high-resolution monochromators, double-crystal monochromators, lenses, mirrors, etc.) are employed for each experimental setup as a matter of course. Under the circumstances, optimization of a synchrotron beamline is a big concern for many scientists to ensure required radiation characteristics (i.e., photon flux, spot size, photon energy, etc.) for dedicated user experiments. In this respect, an in-vacuum hybrid undulator driven by a 6 GeV synchrotron electron beam is optimized using evolutionary algorithms (EA). Finally, it is shown that EA results are well consistent with both the literature and the analytical calculations, resulting in a promising design estimation for beamline scientists.

Research on an active control method of double crystal monochromator with disturbance observer

The double crystal monochromator (DCM) is the core equipment of high flux and high monochromatic light on the synchrotron beamline, which directly affects the performance of the synchrotron hard X-ray beamline in terms of stability. To meet the requirements for the stability of the nano-radian magnitude of the DCM for the 4th-generation synchrotron light source, this paper presents a method to suppress the primary resonance of the system using an integral lead compensation notch filter and eliminate the higher-order positive and negative resonance peaks with a dual second-order notch filter. The bandwidth of the DCM system is enhanced to meet the system speed requirements. Meanwhile, the mechanical coupling is considered equivalent to the system's internal disturbance. The disturbance observer is designed to ensure the stability and dynamic performance of the DCM system. The simulation results show that after correction by the integral lead compensation notch filter and the dual second-order notch filter, the system bandwidth can reach 308Hz while maintaining a phase margin of approximately 25°. Furthermore, the stability of DCM can reach an RMS of 0.139 nrad, 16.610 nrad, and 1.431 nm in the Pitch, Roll, and Gap direction, respectively, with the help of a disturbance observer. The paper proposes a method to develop stable DCMs in 4th-generation synchrotron radiation facilities while improving the X-ray beamline performance.

Large-view x-ray imaging for medical applications using the world’s only vertically polarized synchrotron radiation beam and a single asymmetric Si crystal

Objective. X-ray microangiography provides detailed information on the internal structure and function of a biological subject. Its ability to evaluate the microvasculature of small animals is useful for acquiring basic and clinical medical knowledge. The following three conditions are necessary to attain detailed knowledge of biological functions: (1) high temporal resolution with sufficient x-ray intensity, (2) high spatial resolution, and (3) a wide field of view. Because synchrotron radiation microangiography systems provide high sapatial resolution and high temporal resolution as a result of their high x-ray intensity, such systems have been developed at various synchrotron radiation facilities, starting with the photon factory, leading to numerous medical discoveries. However, the three aforementioned functions are incompatible with the use of synchrotron radiation because the x-ray intensity decreases when a wide field of view is obtained. To overcome these problems, we developed a new x-ray optical system for microangiography in rats using synchrotron radiation x-rays. Approach. Instead of using monochromatic synchrotron radiation x-rays with a conventional double-crystal monochromator, we used white synchrotron radiation x-rays and an asymmetric Si crystal to simultaneously monochromatize the beam and widen the field of view. Main results. The intensity profile and spatial resolution of the x-ray images were then evaluated. The proposed x-ray optics increased the x-ray intensity and beam width by factors of 1.3 and 2.7, respectively, compared with those of conventional monochromatic x-rays. In addition, in vivo studies on microangiography in rats were performed to confirm that the images had sufficient intensity, spatial resolution, and field of view. One of a series of images taken at 50 ms frame−1 was shown as an example. Significance. This x-ray optics provides sufficient x-ray intensity, high spatial resolution, and a wide field of view. This technique is expected providing new insights into the evaluation of the vascular system.

Design and validation of a neutron double crystal monochromator for ICON

Many applications using neutron imaging for materials science use diffraction-based contrast to explore and understand the condition of the samples. Diffraction-based methods require wavelength resolution. The neutron imaging instrument ICON at Paul Scherrer Institut has, until recently, only provided this functionality using a velocity selector. We designed a new double crystal monochromator (DCM) for the conditions at ICON as an option to meet the wavelength resolution demands of specific advanced methods such as diffraction contrast neutron imaging. The DCM can also be combined with the velocity selector. The device uses two pyrolitic graphite crystals as active components, allowing the selection of wavelengths in the interval 2–6 Å. This wavelength interval covers the main applications for wavelength-selective imaging considered at ICON. The device is designed for installation near the instrument shutter system. This position has the advantage that the effective field of view is maximized at the experiment position due to the beam divergence of the ICON. On the other hand, this position means that the beam displacement relative to the initial beam is relatively short. Thus, shielding is vital for the installation. We describe the device design and show the results from the first characterization experiments.

ASTOR: the imaging beamline of the Argentine Neutron Beam Laboratory

The ASTOR instrument is a state-of-the-art neutron imaging instrument being developed by LAHN (Laboratorio Argentino de Haces de Neutrones or Argentinian Laboratory of Neutron Beams) to be installed on one of the cold neutron beams of the 30MW open pool reactor RA-10, currently under construction at the outskirts of Buenos Aires. ASTOR will have direct view to a D2 cold source and will include a primary collimator at 2.5m from its surface. Its design includes a beam conformation room with a set of exchangeable secondary collimators to further collimate the beam, and several devices (solid state filters, a velocity selector and a double crystal monochromator) to tailor the energy spectrum for specific applications. Downstream the beam, it will have an experimental room with ample space for objects and samples, and L/D ratios in the range 120-1500 with calculated fluxes of 3.7x108 n/cm2s and 2.4x106 n/cm2s respectively (E<25meV) and a maximum field of view of 25x25 cm2. It will also count with two rectangular pinholes to obtain increased resolution in one dimension without substantially decreasing the flux.

BL09XU: an advanced hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy beamline of SPring-8.

The BL09XU beamline of SPring-8 has been reorganized into a beamline dedicated for hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES) to provide advanced capabilities with upgraded optical instruments. The beamline has two HAXPES analyzers to cover a wide range of applications. Two sets of double channel-cut crystal monochromators with the Si(220) and (311) reflections were installed to perform resonant HAXPES analyses with a total energy resolution of less than 300 meV over a wide energy range (4.9-12 keV) while achieving a fixed-exit condition. A double-crystal X-ray phase retarder using diamond crystals controls the polarization state with a high degree of polarization over 0.9 in the wide energy range 5.9-9.5 keV. Each HAXPES analyzer is equipped with a focusing mirror to provide a high-flux microbeam. The design and performance of the upgraded instruments are presented.

Intensity correlation properties of x-ray beams split with Laue diffraction

Beam splitting is one of the main approaches to achieving x-ray ghost imaging, and the intensity correlation between diffraction beam and transmission beam will directly affect the imaging quality. In this paper, we investigate the intensity correlation between the split x-ray beams by Laue diffraction of stress-free crystal. The analysis based on the dynamical theory of x-ray diffraction indicates that the spatial resolution of diffraction image and transmission image are reduced due to the position shift of the exit beam. In the experimental setup, a stress-free crystal with a thickness of hundred-micrometers-level is used for beam splitting. The crystal is in a non-dispersive configuration equipped with a double-crystal monochromator to ensure that the dimension of the diffraction beam and transmission beam are consistent. A correlation coefficient of 0.92 is achieved experimentally and the high signal-to-noise ratio of the x-ray ghost imaging is anticipated. Results of this paper demonstrate that the developed beam splitter of Laue crystal has the potential in the efficient data acquisition of x-ray ghost imaging.

Higher order correction and spectral deconvolution of wavelength-resolved neutron transmission imaging at the CONRAD-2 instrument

This paper uses a Fourier self-deconvolution method for improving the wavelength resolution in transmission experiments at continuous neutron sources utilizing a double-crystal monochromator device to probe as well as correct the generation of higher-order neutron scattering in a monochromatic neutron beam. The cold neutron radiography CONRAD-2 equipment has been utilized to resolve the steel transmission spectra of changing BCC phase and FCC phase fractions. Therefore, both low and high-spectral resolution instruments with equivalent wavelength resolution have been proposed. The primary benefit of Fourier self-deconvolution is its ability to precisely narrow individual bands without modifying their relative position or the total band area. Thus, the resolution of the transmission spectrum has been improved by a factor of 3.16, and the info that the sample material comprises two crystallographic phases has been determined by the wavelength resolution improvement employing the deconvolution approach. Additionally, the slight variation in Bragg edge position for different phase fractions and the locations of the double phase Bragg edges have also been obtained using the ray-tracing simulation tool McStas. The high resolution neutron wavelength selection experiment with the ESS test_beamline (V20) instrument employing the neutron time-of-flight detection demonstrates the precision of the resolving steel Bragg edge.

Synchrotron radiation stability with meV-level energy resolution: in situ characterization.

One of the most critical parameters in synchrotron radiation (SR) experiments is the stability of the photon energy, which is primarily affected by the stability of the light source and the optical elements in the beamline. Due to the characteristics of SR and the use of dispersive elements such as monochromators in the beamline, the change of the beam position is usually accompanied by the change of energy and flux, while most traditional beam monitoring methods are based on the direct or indirect measurement of total flux, and are therefore sensitive to the beam position only, having no energy resolution. In this paper, an in situ monitoring system has been designed to measure the short-term (jitter) and long-term (drift) characteristics of the energy variation in the SR beamline. The system consists of a double-crystal monochromator, an orthogonal analysis crystal, and an X-ray imaging detector, which could decouple the angle and energy spread of the photon beam based on the dispersion effect in Bragg diffraction. The time response and the energy resolution of the system could reach millisecond and millielectron volt level, respectively.

Sub-second pair distribution function using a broad bandwidth monochromator.

Here the use of a broad energy bandwidth monochromator, i.e. a pair of B4C/W multilayer mirrors (MLMs), is demonstrated for X-ray total scattering (TS) measurements and pair distribution function (PDF) analysis. Data are collected both on powder samples and from metal oxo clusters in aqueous solution at various concentrations. A comparison between the MLM PDFs and those obtained using a standard Si(111) double-crystal monochromator shows that the measurements yield MLM PDFs of high quality which are suitable for structure refinement. Moreover, the effects of time resolution and concentration on the quality of the resulting PDFs of the metal oxo clusters are investigated. PDFs of heptamolybdate clusters and tungsten α-Keggin clusters from X-ray TS data were obtained with a time resolution down to 3 ms and still showed a similar level of Fourier ripples to PDFs obtained from 1 s measurements. This type of measurement could thus open up faster time-resolved TS and PDF studies.

Performance of small- and wide-angle x-ray scattering beamline at Indus-2 synchrotron

A Small- and Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering (SWAXS) beamline (BL-18) is installed and commissioned at a 1.5 T bending magnet port (5°) of Indus-2 synchrotron at RRCAT, Indore, India. The ∼40-m-long beamline has tunable x-ray energy in the range of 5–20 keV by using a double crystal monochromator. A 1.5-m-long toroidal mirror is used to focus the x-ray beam at the detector position. The beamline is equipped with a 6-m-long movable detector stage to access different wave-vector transfer ranges. At present, an online image plate area detector and a linear position-sensitive gas detector are installed for Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) and Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering (WAXS) measurements, respectively. The beamline is operational in simultaneous SAXS/WAXS mode to probe the mesoscopic as well as molecular level structure over a wide range of wave-vector transfer. The specification of the beamline and its performance are reported here. A few recent experimental results, as obtained from BL-18, are also described in brief.