December 1, 2006

X9 to X3 Beamline Relocation Complete

Beamlines X3A and X3B are operating without restrictions after being transferred from X9 in just four and a half months. The relocation of the two beamlines was completed in advance of original estimates, with deconstruction of X9A and X9B beginning in early May and the first commissioning beams running in late August and early September.

The Case Center for Synchrotron Biosciences, which utilized the former X9 beamlines, moved to X3 to make room for a new undulator-based beamline at X9. The X9 straight section is currently the last one available in the x-ray ring. It will be used for a small-angle x-ray scattering Facility Beamline with BNL’s Center for Functional Nanomaterials as a Contributing User. The new X9 beamline is expected to be operational in 2008, with commissioning completed during the first cycle of the year and full operations starting in May or June.

Beamline X3 Before

Beamline X3 After

Although performed quickly, the relocation from X9 to X3 wasn’t an easy process. First, the X16C beamline was renovated to accept the experimental program that was operating at beamline X3B1. Next, the former X3 beamlines and experimental equipment were completely removed from the X3 floor space. Then, planning, surveying, and engineering and design for the relocation of the two X9 bending magnet beamlines to counterpart locations at X3 were undertaken and the necessary reviews were completed. The X9A hutch was modified and re-built in its new location at X3A, a new hutch for X3B was constructed, and associated utilities and interlocks were installed. The beam pipes for both beamlines, which penetrate the shield wall and connect them with the front end, were moved from X9 to X3, and the shield wall and neighboring lead shields were re-built accordingly. All experimental equipment and controls for these beamlines also were moved to their new locations at X3.

All of the equipment was in place at X3 by August, with the first commissioning beams running shortly after. Re-commissioning was completed around the end of the 2006 fiscal year, and both beamlines are now operating without restrictions. In addition to hosting Participating Research Team (PRT) experiments, X3B started taking General Users in October. X3A is serving PRT users experiments, and will take General Users starting in November 2006.

This remarkably quick transition couldn’t have been completed successfully without the assistance of numerous NSLS technicians, designers, engineers, and scientists and the staff members at Case Western Reserve University, especially those present on site.

ARTICLE BY: Steve Hulbert