“NanoMAX - a hard X-ray nanoprobe beamline at MAX IV“

Anders Mikkelsen

Professor
Synchrotron Radiation Research                
Department of Physics                               
Lund University

X-ray imaging approaching the low nanometer range is one of the most rapidly and strongly developing areas at all modern synchrotrons, e.g., ESRF, Petra3, APS, Soleil or NSLS II. A central reason is that exciting applications of micro- and nano-beams can be found in all major natural science fields, such as materials science, life-science, earth science and nano-science. In addition, modern 3rd generation synchrotrons are extremely well suited for this type of beamlines – in particular MAX IV. A unique quality of this new imaging toolbox is the opportunity for direct in-situ, in-vivo and in-operandi experiments exploring very challenging physical environments and giving direct correlation between structure and physical properties. It also allows 2D and 3D mapping of structure, strain and morphology within complex natural or man-made structures

The hard X-ray undulator beamline for micro- and nanobeams: NanoMAX – will enable imaging applications exploring diffraction, scattering and fluorescence methods. A major consideration for the construction of NanoMAX is to utilize MAX IV’s exceptional low emittance, high brilliance and coherence properties of the x-ray beam.
NanoMAX aims for a final resolution goal of 10 nm while keeping the option of flexible beam sizes up to about 1 m providing the possibility of matching spot size and divergence to the experimental requirements. The beamline will feature two endstations: One with beamsizes down to 300 nm, well suited for scattering and coherence experiments in very flexible sample environments. A second endstation will make it possible to reach the highest resolution with the options of doing diffraction and fluorescence experiments on nanoscale objects.

Since NanoMAX will open new opportunities in many diverse fields, it is a clear goal that many strong Swedish and international groups with and without previous experience in X-ray science should use NanoMAX for their research. The input and wishes of future users is thus very important for the specific design of the beamline and endstations.