The return of the users

"It was worth waiting", says Xavier Torrelles, one of the first users of the new refurbished ID03 beamline. After nine months of works, the beamline now has a smaller beam than before, which increases its brilliance. In addition, the beam can reach the sample without crossing any window, so scientists can use the coherence of the beam. Torrelles, together with Edvin Lundgren and Rasmus Westerström (Lund University) and Marcelo Ackermann (University of Leiden) had previously tested a Pt25Rh75(100) single crystal alloy sample in the former ID03 and tested it again this month in the new beamline. "The smaller beam increased the intensity by at least a factor of 3 for identical measurement conditions and sample geometry, the beam is much more stable now and we can use much smaller samples than ever before", explains Torrelles. 

Top image: Marcelo Ackermann, from the first team of users after ID03 refurbishment, in the new experimental hutch with Ioana Popa, post-doc from ID03.