Beamline Operation

Beamline Operation Safety Guideline

Personnel Safety Interlock (PSI) System

The PSI system ensures personnel safety by controlling access to the experimental station. Personnel can only enter or exit the Beamline 5.2 experimental area when the correct procedures for door and shutter operations are followed.

1. Closing the Door

Close the door completely.
Press the Red Button on the control panel to lock the door.
The Tower Light must change from Green to Yellow.

4. Open the shutters (ABS and WBS) in the Interlock Beamline 5.2 program.

5. The Tower Light changes from Yellow to Red, indicating the area is active (X-ray On).

2. Opening the Door

Close the ABS and WBS shutters in the Interlock Beamline 5.2 program.

2. The Tower Light changes from Red to Yellow.

3. Go to the door control panel and press the Green Button to unlock.

4. The Tower Light changes from Yellow to Green.

5. Open the door open and enter the station.

Sample Preparation

These steps detail the proper way to prepare a solid powder sample using the tape method for X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS).

Step 1: Prepare the Sample Frame

Mount the Tape: Affix a single layer of tape (such as Kapton tape) securely onto a mounting frame.

Crucial Warning (Tape Atom Selection): Ensure the atoms in the tape material do not interfere with the element you are studying (the "atom of interest"). If the tape contains the element you are scanning, it will corrupt your data.

Step 2: Prepare and Mount the Powder

Powder Preparation: The powder sample must be thoroughly crushed (ground) to obtain a fine, uniform particle size.

Coating: Gently press the fine powder onto the sticky side of the tape. Use a flat object (like a spatula or clean glass slide) to spread the powder evenly across the frame, ensuring a uniform layer.

Step 3: Check Uniformity and Seal

Clean Edges: Neatly clean the sample frame edges, removing any excess powder.

Check Uniformity: Hold the mounted sample up to a light source. Visually inspect the sample to ensure the texture is uniform and that there are no gaps, voids, or pores in the powder layer. The X-ray beam must pass through a consistent thickness.

Seal the Sample: Cover the powder layer with a second piece of tape (e.g., Kapton tape). Use a cotton swab or similar tool to firmly press down the tape around the edges to create a tight, sealed package.

Additional Considerations for Sample Preparation

The optimal amount of sample depends on many factors, including the concentration (intensity of atomic volume) of the element of interest, the desired measurement mode (patterns), and the specific absorption edge energy being measured.

The total thickness must be appropriate for the X-ray energy to achieve reliable transmission data.

Preparation for Liquid Samples

Liquid or Solution Samples: If the sample is a solution or liquid, it must be prepared using a specialized Liquid Cell designed for XAS measurements.

Beamline Operation

Beamline Operation Safety Guideline

Personnel Safety Interlock (PSI) System

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1. Closing the Door

PSI