New SAXSWAXS Project on BL 4.3.1 Updates

Future beamline 4.3.1 (new SAXSWAXS) key specs (project poster):

1. Tunable beam size via novel optics

   • Large beam (~1 mm) for radiation-sensitive materials

   • Line-shaped beam (~75 micron -H, ~1mm -W) for grazing incidence measurements 

   • Small beam (~75 micron) for e.g., mapping, scanning SAXS, single domain studies

2. Tunable energy

   • 10-17 KeV

3. Tunable energy bandwidth (E/dE)

   • ~ 100, higher flux and lower energy resolution mode

   • ~400, higher energy resolution and lower flux mode

4. Simultaneous SAXS and WAXS 

   • Dual detectors (WAXS detector has a hole - missing module - for SAXS signal to pass, e.g., Dectris specfic solutions, Pilatus or Eiger detectors)

   • Access a broad q range (length scale) in a single shot, generate highly correlated in-situ SAXS/WAXS data from the same sample 

Endstation key features:

1. Robotic automation (high throughput) for routine/standard measurements, such as static GIWAXS, GISAXS, transmission SAXS/WAXS

   • UR5e cobot (Olympus Controls, Universal Robots), Robotiq wrist camera 

2. Autonomous experimentation (closed-loop) infrastructure consisting of

   • On-the-fly sample processing robots

   • Automated data acquisition and data analysis

   • Smart algorithms, e.g., gpCAM (M. Noack, CAMERA)

   • ML/AI tools

   • Flexible and user friendly interface

3. Modular, multi-modal in situ sample environments

(Nov. 25, 2024)

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1. ALS has secured funding for the new SAXS/WAXS project at BL 4.3.1

2. BL 4.3.1 is in the 'WAVE 1' group of new beamline-level projects (first group of major projects that ALS will execute in the next 2-3 years)

3. ALS Project Delivery office and PSD will ramp up the project execution in Jan. 2025. (POC: Andrew Doran - PSD, Daniele Cocco - Project Delivery)

(November of 2024)

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BL 7.3.3 is expected to continue operation till the start of the ALS-U dark time, which will be June of 2026 (as of August of 2023). 

For the project status of the new SAXSWAXS on beamline 4.3.1 post the ALS-U, please see below:

1. ALS allocated $1.5M (in FY 23) for scoping out the detailed design of a new SAXSWAXS on BL 4.3.1.

2. ALS/PSD (Photon Science Development group) has assigned a project lead (Andrew Doran) and a team of experts for this project. ( as of July of 2023)

3. Beamline Optics Design Review is scheduled for May of 2024. 

Please check back for more updates and feel free to contact us or ALS management anytime if you have any questions or comments.  

PSD lead: Kenneth Goldberg

PSO lead: Michael C. Martin

Last update, August 2023