GPS Hutches for NSLS-II Project Beamlines

August 27, 2011

The National Synchrotron Light Source II will accommodate at least 58 beamlines using a combination of bending magnet sources, covering the IR, VUV, and soft x-ray range; three-pole wigglers, covering the hard x-ray range up to ~20 keV; and insertion devices (ID) (undulators, damping wigglers, and superconducting wigglers), covering the VUV through the very hard x-ray range. Additional beamlines are possible through canted IDs and multiple branches.

The hutches being manufactured by Global Partners in Shielding (GPS) are for the six beamlines funded within the NSLS-II construction project. These “project” beamlines are listed below, with links to detailed descriptions.

Mechanical engineer Ed Haas is the technical point of contact for the GPS contracts. Haas listed the specific hutches for each beamline:

  • CHX: 1 lead/steel and 1 steel
  • CSX: 1 lead/steel
  • HXN: 1 lead/steel, 1 steel and 1 concrete (GPS providing steel components for concrete hutch)
  • IXS: 1 lead/steel and 3 steel
  • SRX: 1 lead/steel and 3 steel
  • XPD: 4 lead/steel

Haas noted that each of the six project beamlines has a lead/steel hutch positioned where the beam exits the NSLS-II storage ring and first enters the beamline. “That’s where the highest photon flux will be, hence the need for lead shielding,” he explained. He added that these hutches are called first optical enclosures, or FOEs, because they house optical elements such as in-vacuum mirrors and monochromators. Components located downstream receive significantly less photon flux and a narrower range of photon energies.

For four beamlines — CHX, HXN, IXS and SRX — the photon energies transmitted beyond the FOEs are relatively low. Hence, the remaining downstream enclosures for these four beamlines do not require lead shielding. “The steel sheet metal alone provides adequate protection to nearby personnel,” said Haas.

The XPD beamline will be using only hard x-rays, which requires all lead/steel hutches.

Another exception is CSX. It will use only soft x-rays, which will not have sufficient photon energy to traverse the stainless steel vacuum pipes that contain them. “All experiments at the CSX beamline will be done in vacuum,” said Haas, “so CSX does not need a hutch downstream of its FOE.”

- Mona S. Rowe, Light Sources Communications Manager

2011-2600  |  INT/EXT  |  Newsroom