Nord Andresen

Development of a compact fast CCD camera and resonant soft x-ray scattering endstation for time-resolved pump-probe experiments

The designs of a compact, fast CCD (cFCCD) camera, together with a resonant soft x-ray scattering endstation, are presented. The cFCCD camera consists of a highly parallel, custom, thick, high-resistivity CCD, readout by a custom 16-channel application specific integrated circuit to reach the maximum readout rate of 200 frames per second. The camera is mounted on a virtual-axis flip stage inside the RSXS chamber. When this flip stage is coupled to a differentially pumped rotary seal, the detector assembly can rotate about 100°/360° in the vertical/horizontal scattering planes. With a six-degrees-of-freedom cryogenic sample goniometer, this endstation has the capability to detect the superlattice reflections from the electronic orderings showing up in the lower hemisphere. The complete system has been tested at the Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and has been used in multiple experiments at the Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory.

A high-efficiency spin-resolved photoemission spectrometer combining time-of-flight spectroscopy with exchange-scattering polarimetry

We describe a spin-resolved electron spectrometer capable of uniquely efficient and high energy resolution measurements. Spin analysis is obtained through polarimetry based on low-energy exchange scattering from a ferromagnetic thin-film target. This approach can achieve a similar analyzing power (Sherman function) as state-of-the-art Mott scattering polarimeters, but with as much as 100 times improved efficiency due to increased reflectivity. Performance is further enhanced by integrating the polarimeter into a time-of-flight (TOF) based energy analysis scheme with a precise and flexible electrostatic lens system. The parallel acquisition of a range of electron kinetic energies afforded by the TOF approach results in an order of magnitude (or more) increase in efficiency compared to hemispherical analyzers. The lens system additionally features a 90 degrees bandpass filter, which by removing unwanted parts of the photoelectron distribution allows the TOF technique to be performed at low electron drift energy and high energy resolution within a wide range of experimental parameters. The spectrometer is ideally suited for high-resolution spin- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (spin-ARPES), and initial results are shown. The TOF approach makes the spectrometer especially ideal for time-resolved spin-ARPES experiments.

The first infrared beamline at the ALS: Design, construction, and initial commissioning

The first IR beamline at the advanced light source, Beamline 1.4, is described. The design of the optical and mechanical systems are discussed, including choices and tradeoffs. The initial commissioning of the beamline is reported. The beamline, while designed primarily for IR microscopy and only initially instrumented for microscopy (with a Nicolet interferometer and microscope), will have the potential for surface science experiments at grazing incidence, and time- resolved visible spectroscopy.

Noise Reduction Efforts for the ALS Infrared Beamlines

The quality of infrared microscopy and spectroscopy data collected at synchrotron based sources is strongly dependent on signal-to-noise. We have successfully identified and suppressed several noise sources affecting Beamlines 1.4.2, 1.4.3, and 1.4.4 at the Advanced Light Source (ALS), resulting in a significant increase in the quality of FTIR spectra obtained. In this paper, we present our methods of noise source analysis, the negative effect of noise on the infrared beam quality, and the techniques used to reduce the noise. These include reducing the phase noise in the storage ring radio-frequency (RF) system, installing an active mirror feedback system, analyzing and changing physical mounts to better isolate portions of the beamline optics from low-frequency environmental noise, and modifying the input signals to the main ALS RF system. We also discuss the relationship between electron beam energy oscillations at a point of dispersion and infrared beamline noise.

High speed, direct detection 1k Frame-Store CCD sensor for synchrotron radiation

This work presents the development of a high speed, direct detection, 1k Frame Store CCD camera for synchrotron radiation. We review the research and development of this detector from small scale prototypes to a megapixel sensor, highlighting design challenges and solutions, and reporting on the achieved imaging performance. Further, we report on performance improvements obtained by implementing a second-generation fast readout integrated circuit manufactured in 0.25µm CMOS technology, as well as a voltage buffer chip manufactured in high voltage 0.35µm CMOS technology. The camera presented in this paper is high vacuum-compatible to allow for soft X-ray detection.

Performance of photon position monitors and stability of undulator beams at the advanced light source

Position monitors are implemented in three undulator beamlines at the ALS. Their performance has been studied carefully on one of these lines and is reviewed. The monitors work as expected and show the ALS to be an exceptionally stable source of synchrotron radiation.

A 1MPixel fast CCD sensor for X-ray imaging

This paper describes the performance of a 1MPixel Frame Store CCD sensor for soft X-ray applications at synchrotron light sources. This camera can be operated in frame store mode with a 1Mpixel imaging area running at 200fps, or in full frame mode with a 2M pixels imaging area running at 100fps. The CCD has 192 outputs that are serviced by custom-designed integrated circuits that perform correlated double-sampling signal processing and digitization. The digitized data is acquired by a custom made image acquisition and camera controller board based on the Advanced Telecommunication Computing Architecture system. Results obtained during a test run at the Advanced Light Source are presented demonstrating the X-ray camera performance.

Performance of the LBNL FastCCD for the European XFEL

The European X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL.EU) is currently being commissioned in Schenefeld, Germany. From 2017 onwards it will provide spatially coherent X-rays of energies between 0.25 keV and 25keV with a unique timing structure. One of the detectors foreseen at XFEL.EU for the soft X-ray regime (energies below 6keV) is a quasi column-parallel readout FastCCD developed by Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (LBNL) specifically for the XFEL.EU requirements. Its sensor has 1920×960 pixels of 30μm ×30μm size with a beam hole in the middle of the sensor. The camera can be operated in full frame and frame store mode. With the FastCCD a frame rate of up to 120 fps can be achieved, but at XFEL.EU the camera settings are optimized for the 10Hz XFEL bunch-mode. The detector has been delivered to XFEL.EU. Results of the performance tests and calibration done using the XFEL.EU detector calibration infrastructure are presented quantifying noise level, gain and energy resolution.

Initial Evaluation of a Pulsed White Spectrum Neutron Generator for Explosive Detection

Successful explosive material detection in luggage and similar sized containers is a critical issue in securing the safety of all airline passengers. Tensor Technology Inc. has recently developed a methodology that will detect explosive compounds with pulsed fast neutron transmission spectroscopy. In this scheme, tritium beams will be used to generate neutrons with a broad energy spectrum as governed by the T(t,2n)4He fission reaction that produces 0-9 MeV neutrons. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, in collaboration with Tensor Technology Inc., has designed and fabricated a pulsed white-spectrum neutron source for this application. The specifications of the neutron source are demanding and stringent due to the requirements of high yield and fast pulsing neutron emission, and sealed tube, tritium operation. In a unique co-axial geometry, the ion source uses ten parallel rf induction antennas to externally couple power into a toroidal discharge chamber. There are 20 ion beam extraction slits and three concentric electrode rings to shape and accelerate the ion beam into a titanium cone target. Fast neutron pulses are created by using a set of parallel-plate deflectors switching between plusmn750 V and deflecting the ion beams across a narrow slit. The generator is expected to achieve 5 ns neutron pulses at tritium ion beam energies between 80-120 kV. First experiments demonstrated ion source operation and successful beam pulsing.

A 5- μ m pitch charge-coupled device optimized for resonant inelastic soft X-ray scattering

We have developed a charge-coupled device (CCD) with 5 μm × 45 μm pixels on high-resistivity silicon. The fully depleted 200 μm-thick silicon detector is back-illuminated through a 10 nm-thick in situ doped polysilicon window and is thus highly efficient for soft through >8 keV hard X-rays. The device described here is a 1.5 megapixel CCD with 2496 × 620 pixels. The pixel and camera geometry was optimized for Resonant Inelastic X-ray Scattering (RIXS) and is particularly advantageous for spectrometers with limited arm lengths. In this article, we describe the device architecture, construction and operation, and its performance during tests at the Advance Light Source (ALS) 8.0.1 RIXS beamline. The improved spectroscopic performance, when compared with a current standard commercial camera, is demonstrated with a ∼280 eV (CK) X-ray beam on a graphite sample. Readout noise is typically 3-6 electrons and the point spread function for soft CK X-rays in the 5 μm direction is 4.0 μm ± 0.2 μm. The measured quantum efficiency of the CCD is greater than 75% in the range from 200 eV to 1 keV.