A high-energy X-ray beamline for materials science research at SPring-8: BL15XU

The high-energy X-ray beamline BL15XU is designed to drive advancements in materials science and high-pressure research by leveraging the photon source characteristics of SPring-8. The beamline provides an intense 100 keV pink beam, extracted from undulator radiation using a double-multilayer monochromator, and delivers a high flux of 6.0 × 10¹³ photons s^-1 to the sample position. Experimental hutch 1 is dedicated to materials engineering, employing non-destructive methods based on scanning 3D X-ray diffraction and computed laminographic imaging. Experimental hutch 2 focuses on high-pressure science, and is equipped with a rotational slit system capable of switching between radiography and diffraction modes at speeds up to 144 Hz, with a minimum exposure time of approximately 2.7 ms. Installed high-pressure apparatuses include: the 1500 ton MADONNA multi-anvil press for generating pressures up to 120 GPa, the mobile 200 ton Hyaku-shiki press for in situ deformation experiments up to 20 GPa, and a dedicated Paris-Edinburgh press setup for pair distribution function analysis of liquids and amorphous materials over a wide momentum transfer range up to 27.8 Å^-1. These diverse capabilities establish BL15XU as a versatile platform for in situ investigations of materials science and high-pressure research, well prepared for future high-brilliance operations at SPring-8-II.