‘We’re currently in the process of calibrating all beamline components, including X-ray optics. We’ve already achieved the designed energy resolving power for one of the three diffraction gratings’, said Dr Magdalena Szczepanik-Ciba, project supervisor.
The construction of the beamline began at the end of 2018 with the installation of an undulator (the source of synchrotron radiation), and an optical hutch. The front end was installed at the beginning of 2019. In the following months, the remaining components of the beamline were set up. During the summer of 2019, the ultra-high vacuum system of the end-station was assembled. At the end of the year, the PHELIX beamline became fully operational.
An electron energy analyser and a spin detector will be delivered to SOLARIS in February 2020. This will allow the first test measurements to commence. The first research projects are planned to be carried out at the end of 2020.
The PHELIX beamline will use soft X-rays. Its end station will enable a wide range of spectroscopic and absorption studies characterised by different surface sensitivity. Besides collecting standard high-resolution spectra, it will allow for mapping band structure in three dimensions and detecting spin in three dimensions. PHELIX users will therefore be able to conduct research in the area of new materials, thin layers and multilayers systems as well as catalysts and biomaterials.
