An advanced diffractometer for resonant soft x-ray scattering, diffraction and reflectivity

软x射线衍射和散射是一种相对较新的技术，依赖于元素吸收边缘的巨大共振增强。对薄膜和单晶的研究已经证明了软x射线衍射在研究电荷散射和磁散射以及直接观察轨道有序方面的优势。到目前为止，世界领先的研究已经在达斯伯里进行，使用一个简单的双圆衍射仪修改了氮冷却阶段。目前的衍射仪有许多限制，不能升级。我们建议建立一个新的专用真空软x射线衍射仪，具有增强的低温能力，多轴能力，并配备一些新的探测器，包括高分辨率CCD。衍射仪还将配备一个高磁场磁铁，用于环境温度下的反射率研究。新的衍射仪将在达斯伯里设计，用于Diamond的软x射线纳米科学光束线（I06）的分支，并最终在2010年后用于高级二色性实验的偏振光束线（BLADE, I10）。新的衍射仪将为目前在SRS使用1.1和5U1的技术重要材料的基础研究和设备应用的现有广泛用户社区提供迁移途径。

Soft x-ray diffraction and scattering is a relatively new technique relying on huge resonant enhancements at elemental absorption edges. Studies on thin films and single crystals have demonstrated the advantages of soft x-ray diffraction for studies of both charge and magnetic scattering as well as direct observation of orbital ordering. To date world leading research has been conducted at Daresbury using a simple two-circle diffractometer modified with a nitrogen cooling stage. The current diffractometer has a number of limitations and cannot be upgraded. We propose to build a new dedicated in-vacuum soft x-ray diffractometer with enhanced cryogenic capabilities, multiaxis capability and equipped with a number of new detectors including a high resolution CCD. The diffractometer will also be equipped with a high field magnet for reflectivity studies at ambient temperature. The new diffractometer will be designed at Daresbury to be used on a branchline of the soft x-ray Nanoscience beamline (I06) at Diamond and eventually on the polarized beamline for advanced dichroism experiments ( BLADE, I10) after 2010. The new diffractometer will provide a migration route for an existing wide community of users for fundamental studies and device applications of technologically important materials who currently use 1.1 and 5U1 at the SRS.