Beamline Updates

• Please see the MX User Wiki for information about our beamlines or contact us directly: as-mx@ansto.gov.au

• The MX3 beamline is taking proposals for Run 2 of 2025. Please contact us for information about MX3: as-mx3@ansto.gov.au

Mail-In proposals Please check the wiki before submitting a proposal

Updates

Purchase of a gas system and mass spectrometer The gas system is a Hiden XCS system that can produce gas mixtures and generate a flow of gas at a specified flow rate. The mass spectrometer is a Hiden QGA. Both are currently being commissioned and will be ready soon.

Mythen-II issues Currently experiencing issues with our main detector losing communication. Suspect its an end-of-life issue and are investigating the use of our 2D detector for experiments.

Hutch C upgrades and 2D detector Upgrade project on hold due to resourcing constraints.

• The ADS1 and ADS2 beamlines are currently under construction and not taking proposals.

• Proposal submission guidelines for the IMBL beamline.

• Please see the beamline page for IMBL updates.

• We are very excited to announce that the MCT beamline is now taking proposals from BRIGHT funders! A list of funders is available on the following webpage: Project BRIGHT

• Please see the MCT beamline page for some technical information on the beamline, as well as the ANSTO website.

• Potential Users interested in putting in a proposal for round 2023-3 are asked to contact the MCT beamline scientists to discuss their experiment.

  • MCT group email: as-mct@ansto.gov.au

  • Dr Andrew Stevenson (lead scientist): stevensa@ansto.gov.au

  • Dr Benedicta Arhatari (beamline scientist): arhatarb@ansto.gov.au

• Proposal submission guidelines for the IRM beamline. New Users are encouraged to discuss proposal ideas with a member of the beamline team.

• We have updated the Map Time Calculator to include micro-ATR and the offline FPA.

• IRM is short-staffed during the 2025-1 proposal submission time. Please be patient with our team.

• Proposal submission guidelines for the XFM beamline.

• Please contact a member of the beamline team for any questions regarding beamline capabilities and help with submitting a proposal: as-thz@ansto.gov.au

  • Dr Dom Appadoo: dominiqa@ansto.gov.au

  • Ms Ruth Plathe: ruthp@ansto.gov.au

• The Nanoprobe beamline is currently under construction and not taking proposals.

• Proposal submission guidelines for the SAXS/WAXS beamline.

• The BioSAXS beamline is now accepting proposals!

• Please contact a member of the BioSAXS team to discuss eligibility and beamline capabilities before submitting a proposal: as-biosaxs@ansto.gov.au

  • Dr Andrew Clulow (Senior Beamline Scientist): clulowa@ansto.gov.au

  • Dr Lester Barnsley (Beamline Scientist): barnslel@ansto.gov.au

  • Annmaree Warrender (Beamline Scientist): warrenda@ansto.gov.au

Please note that the XAS Beamline is currently accepting new proposals only every second round. The next call for new proposals will be this round (3/25). The facility reviews these arrangements regularly. If you have specific feedback regarding this arrangement, please feel free to contact us.

• BEAMLINE CONTACT - contact the XAS Beamline team on as-xas@ansto.gov.au

• 2 BEAMLINE MODES - going forward we operate with 2 beamline modes and the same rules apply, i.e. one proposal per mode. See here for further details

• CHOOSING CORRECT BEAMLINE - not sure if you should apply for the XAS or MEX beamlines? check our handy flow chart. Note that the lowest energy edge we can reach on the XAS Beamline is the Mn K-edge. Please get in touch with the MEX beamlines for lower energy work, including for the Cr K-edge and below.

• PROPOSAL GUIDELINES - all proposals must follow the submission guidelines for the XAS beamline. Failure to do so will limit the chances of your proposal being successful.

• SLEW SCANNING - scans are about 2 to 3 times faster than traditional (old) step scans, and with no time spent on scan overheads, achieving same data quality, eg 20 min per EXAFS, 10 min per XANES as a rule-of-thumb. Faster scanning is certainly possible, for example, we have collected good EXAFS data on transmission user samples in situ in well under 60 s. Fluorescence samples will by nature always be more challenging and more time consuming. For ex situ studies there is little benefit in collecting at this fast rate (unless you are trying to avoid radiation damage). When estimating your beamtime requirements don’t forget to set aside time for sample changes, alignment, etc. Check the submission guidelines for further detail.

• SPECTROMETER - a crystal spectrometer (eg for HERFD) is located in the second experimental station (Hutch C). We continue to build capability and experience with the instrument and encourage you to submit merit proposals to use the new facility, but you must contact us first to discuss feasibility. We will consider proposals for Mode X only (up to 19 keV). For operational reasons, Hutch C will only accommodate experiments using the spectrometer. Most experiments, including in-situ, can be accommodated for in Hutch B as per normal, for example catalysis and batteries described here

Beamline news

• 5th March 2024: All experimental endstations are fully operational for Cycle 2 2024, and are available for Cycle 3 2024

Experimental Systems

Prevac Endstation

• 5th March 2024: Sample-holder transfer and exchange mechanism inside the Prevac UHV endstation has been fully refurbished and back to “as-new” operation

High-Throughput NEXAFS system

• 5th March 2024: Vortex EM single-element Silicon Drift Detector (SDD) now offered to users. Currently only offered in Total Fluoresence Yield (TFY) mode. Contact beamline staff for technical assistance

Toroidal Analyser (ARPES)

IMPORTANT

• Contact beamline scientists for specific questions on capabilities or consult the User Wiki

• New User are STRONGLY encouraged to discuss proposal ideas with a member of the beamline time: as-softxray@ansto.gov.au

• Proposal submission guidelines for the SXR beamline.

• Not sure if you should apply for MEX or XAS? Check our handy flow chart.

• Potential Users MUST CONTACT BEAMLINE STAFF and discuss the proposed measurements prior to submitting their proposal (as-mex@ansto.gov.au).

• All proposals must contain a sample table that summarises the experiment (use the table template available in the MEX proposal guidelines document).

• Now accepting proposals requiring a cryostat

• Please note ex situ samples ONLY. Samples must suitable for transmission measurements in air, under ambient temperature and pressure.

Please see the MEX User Wiki and ANSTO website for more information about the MEX beamlines.

• Not sure if you should apply for MEX or XAS? Check our handy flow chart.

• Potential Users MUST CONTACT BEAMLINE STAFF and discuss the proposed measurements prior to submitting their proposal (as-mex@ansto.gov.au).

• All proposals must contain a sample table that summarises the experiment (use the table template available in the MEX proposal guidelines document).

• Please note ex situ samples ONLY. Samples must suitable for drain current measurements in vacuum.
  
  

Please see the MEX User Wiki and ANSTO website for more information about the MEX beamlines.