The INE-beamline for actinide research at ANKA

The Institut für Nukleare Entsorgung (INE) at the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe is presently constructing and will commission and operate an x-ray spectroscopy beamline dedicated to actinide research at the new synchrotron source ANKA. One great advantage of the INE-Beamline is that on-site, in situ actinide research is possible for studying, e.g., solid-water interface chemical reactions, which are not possible at other facilities. The design is for a multi-purpose beamline, i.e., a number of methods (XAFS, surface sensitive and spatial resolved techniques) are possible on one and the same sample. Planned is a safe and flexible containment concept for activities up to 10⁶ times the limit of exemption. The design will allow spectroscopic investigations using photon energies from the K edge of S (2477 eV) to the Rh K-edge (23 220 eV). The optics include collimating and focusing mirrors for a sub-mm beam dimension at the sample position. A later upgrade is planned to install auxiliary μ-focusing optics (e.g., a single bounce elliptical monocapillary or planar compound refractive lenses). The monochromator at the INE-Beamline is a Lemonnier type double-crystal x-ray monochromator (DCM), built at the Universität Bonn, Physikalisches Institut. The pressure inside the small diameter (380 mm) vacuum housing is ∼10⁶ mbar, allowing fast changes of crystals, avoiding long pumping times. Multi-layer mirrors can be used in the DCM for wide band-pass experiments, e.g., for x-ray fluorescence analysis measurements. Installation of beamline components has been completed in October 2003. Operation begin is targeted for 2004.