X-Ray Optics

Figure 1: Optical scheme of the PEARL beamline. BM: bending magnet; FM: focusing mirror; PG: plane grating; PM: plane mirror; SL: slit; RM: refocusing mirror.
Figure 1: Optical scheme of the PEARL beamline. BM: bending magnet; FM: focusing mirror; PG: plane grating; PM: plane mirror; SL: slit; RM: refocusing mirror.
Figure 2: 3D rendering of the optics segment of the beamline.
Figure 2: 3D rendering of the optics segment of the beamline.
Figure 3: Photon flux at the sample position, measured on a calibrated silicon photodiode for the 600 and 1200 lines/mm diffraction gratings. The solid and broken lines were measured for maximum (720 mrad x 1200 mrad) and minimum (120 mrad x 120 mrad) front-end aperture, respectively. The exit slit size is 100 mm.
Figure 3: Photon flux at the sample position, measured on a calibrated silicon photodiode for the 600 and 1200 lines/mm diffraction gratings.
The solid and broken lines were measured for maximum (720 mrad x 1200 mrad) and minimum (120 mrad x 120 mrad) front-end aperture, respectively.
The exit slit size is 100 mm.
Figure 4: Total yield absorption spectra of nitrogen measured with monochromatic light from the 600 lines/mm grating (G 600) and the 1200 lines/mm grating (G 1200), at an exit slit setting of 50 mm. Solid lines are least-squares fits of Voigt functions, dashed lines show the decomposed lowest-energy peak. The intensity ratio between the first valley and third peak (v/p) is indicated.
Figure 4: Total yield absorption spectra of nitrogen measured with monochromatic light from the 600 lines/mm grating (G 600) and the 1200 lines/mm grating (G 1200), at an exit slit setting of 50 mm.
Solid lines are least-squares fits of Voigt functions, dashed lines show the decomposed lowest-energy peak.
The intensity ratio between the first valley and third peak (v/p) is indicated.
Figure 5: Calculated energy resolution of the beamline optics at the same aperture settings as in Fig. 4. Experimental values from nitrogen XAS are marked.
Figure 5: Calculated energy resolution of the beamline optics at the same aperture settings as in Fig. 4.
Experimental values from nitrogen XAS are marked.
Photoelectron diffraction experiments benefit mainly from high photon flux and tunable photon energy. High photon flux is required to compensate for the low emitter density due to surface sensitivity. Tunable photon energy is needed for several reasons. The photoelectron cross-section varies strongly with photon energy. It is in general highest at low photon energy, while there are a few notable exceptions due to interference or resonant excitation. For structural analysis from angle- and energy-scanned photoelectron diffraction it is also important that the wavelength of the photoelectrons determines the diffraction conditions.

The PEARL optics is designed for the photon energy range 100-2000 eV, covering the core-level XPS lines of most chemical elements. The beamline should deliver high photon flux at photon energies between 500 and 1000 eV. For measurements with chemical state specificity, the energy resolution should be tunable to at least 0.1 eV in this energy range.
The X-ray optics are based on a plane-grating monochromator operating in non-collimated beam and negative diffraction order. This design provides high photon flux and tunable photon energy in the range 100-2000 eV at an energy resolution E/ΔE up to 7000. A switchable refocusing mirror allows to switch spot size and flux density on the sample. Fig. 1 shows a schematical diagram.

Fig. 2 shows a 3D rendering of the optics segment of the beamline. The X-rays from the synchrotron enter the beamline from the left hand side. The major components (on concrete supports) are, from left to right: Focusing mirror, monochromator, exit slit, gas cell (diagnostics), refocusing mirror. The beam exits on the right side to the experimental station (not shown).
Fig. 3 shows the measured photon flux for the two installed monochromator gratings at two aperture settings for best resolution and for highest flux. Exceeding the design goals, the beamline delivers smoothly tunable photons over the range from 60 to 2000 eV.

For details on beamline performance and calculations, cf. Refs. 1 and 2.

  1. P. Oberta, U. Flechsig, M. Muntwiler, C. Quitmann: Optical design study of the PEARL beamline at SLS, Nucl. Instr. and Meth. A 635, 116 (2011), DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2011.01.076
  2. M. Muntwiler, J. Zhang, R. Stania, F. Matsui, P. Oberta, U. Flechsig, L. Patthey, C. Quitmann, T. Glatzel, R. Widmer, E. Meyer, T. A. Jung, P. Aebi, R. Fasel, T. Greber: Surface science at the PEARL beamline of the Swiss Light Source, J. Synchrotron Rad. 24, 354 (2017), DOI: 10.1107/S1600577516018646