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The past year saw major milestones reached on a number of beam line projects. Beam Line 5-4 was installed and initial commissioning activities successfully completed. This new branch line on the Beam Line 5 multi-undulator source features a normal incidence monochromator (NIM) for high resolution photoemission studies of collective phenomena in condensed matter systems. (This is discussed in more detail in the article by Michael Rowen.)
Beam Line 9, the new suite of three branch lines for structural molecular biology, has also moved from construction to user commissioning mode. The 9-1 protein crystallography side station completed its user trials with outstanding data collected on a number of systems. The past year saw first light and subsequent commissioning activities on X-ray absorption spectroscopy Beam Line 9-3. These commissioning activities included performance studies of the second-generation pin post monochromator crystals and associated new monochromator design. The protein crystallography End Station 9-2 should experience first light and commissioning in the fall. The Beam Line 11 front end and most alcove components were designed, fabricated, and installed this past year. The current schedule calls for wiggler installation during the SPEAR shutdown next summer.
A number of beam lines have seen less extensive upgrades. For example, Beam Lines 4-2 and 6-2 received new hutch tables which feature increased mechanical stability. Beam line 7-2 was fitted with a new, more spacious hutch. A new powder diffraction station was installed and commissioned on Beam Line 2-1; this capability will be enhanced when a new mirror, which is currently in fabrication, is installed this fall. A new mirror system is also currently in fabrication for Beam Line 7-2. This new mirror will extend the focused energy range of 7-2 while eliminating the platinum mirror coating resonant absorption lines from the 7-2 spectrum. In anticipation of the new mirror on 7-2, the mirror controller has been upgraded to the type of system employed on 4-2 and 6-2. The goniometer on the 4-2 monochromator has been upgraded with a more robust model. Crystals from a number of double crystal monochromators were realigned, cut, and etched to provide improved monochromator performance. The machine protection systems on Beam Lines 3, 4, and 7 were replaced with new Allen Bradley systems. Finally, the personnel protection systems on Beam Lines 3 and 4 were replaced.
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