Synchrotron Facilities: Vibration and Stability Challenge

Abstract

The new generation of synchrotron accelerator facilities are opening exciting new opportunities in imaging, spectroscopy, structural and dynamic studies, and other applications by pushing the envelope of resolution to just a few nanometers and possibly atomic scale (~1 nm). Achieving such a state of resolution in both space and energy is expected to have broad impact on a wide range of disciplines and scientific initiatives in the coming decades, including new studies of small crystals in structural biology, a wide range of nanometer-resolution probes for nanoscience, properties of materials under extreme conditions, etc. Such performance goals place severe requirements on the quality of the electron and photon beams. Within the synchrotron accelerator envelope, and in addition to the need to maintain the electron beam within an extremely stable orbit in order to realize the benefits of the high brightness and small beam sizes, it is essential that the photon beams are also exceedingly stable in both position and angle. Particularly for timing experiments, it is also necessary that the arrival-time jitter of the bunch be small. Transverse beam motions <10% of beam size or angular spread, and longitudinal beam motion of <5% of equilibrium bunch duration, are typically desired. Ideally, the temporal, spatial, and angular stability of the electron beam should be maintained for at least the duration of spectral scans, which typically run from a few milliseconds to a few hours. Achieving such a level of stability that is ever pushing the envelope is an enormous task, and that is where engineering comes into play.