The materials science X-ray beamline BL8 at the DELTA storage ring

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Condensed Matter Physics
• Synchrotron Radiation Science

Background:

• The Dortmund Electron Accelerator DELTA provides a 1.5 GeV electron beam.
• Superconducting asymmetric wigglers are crucial for generating hard X-ray radiation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the hard X-ray beamline BL8 at DELTA.
• To highlight its capabilities for X-ray studies from 1 keV to 25 keV.
• To showcase its suitability for advanced experiments including time-resolved and surface-sensitive measurements.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a superconducting asymmetric wiggler and optimized optical components.
• Employed a six-axis diffractometer with capabilities for non-ambient sample environments.
• Performed X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) including transmission, fluorescence detection, and reflection modes.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated high-quality Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) data acquisition in quick-scanning mode within seconds.
• Achieved time-resolved in situ experiments using standard, permanently available beamline equipment.
• Confirmed competitive photon flux and energy resolution compared to global insertion-device beamlines.

Conclusions:

• Beamline BL8 is a versatile and high-performance facility for X-ray absorption studies.
• The beamline supports sophisticated experiments, including surface-sensitive EXAFS and time-resolved in situ analyses.
• Its capabilities make it a valuable resource for the scientific community, comparable to leading international facilities.