Collective dynamics with coherent X-rays

MAX IV operates the first-ever low-emittance electron storage ring.

The brightness and stability of the photon beam provided are MAX IV’s most outstanding features and enable new opportunities for all natural science areas served by the facility.

MAX IV already is used by almost a thousand researchers a year from life science, chemistry, physics, environmental science, engineering, and material science. MAX IV supports basic science, applied material characterization, education, innovation and industrial research.

With 16 beamlines that make use of the high brightness in operation or construction, MAX IV has still further opportunities to explore its unique possibilities.

Compared to other sources, MAX IV’s smaller source size results in larger spatial coherence lengths of up to 100 microns and beyond. The coherent fraction increases to up to 10 % and extends into the harder X-ray regime. Multifold gains in temporal and spatial resolution are possible with this degree of coherence.

These gains will provide novel insight for basic and applied science ranging from molecular biology in complex environments, from functionality in soft- and hard condensed matter to basic molecular dynamics in fundamental science.An active community in Sweden, and MAX IV’s funders and stakeholders have identified further development of coherent methods as core to MAX IV’s mission and key to its long term success.

MAX IV invests in this development in collaboration with the well organized user community.

Here, we propose the investment into a state-of-the-art detector for fast time resolved X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS), to develop a first flagship project with a focus on coherent methods. The coherence length available facilitates faster low-dose XPCS experiments, relevant for radiation sensitive samples.

The high degree of coherence will give sufficient contrast, or signal, for fast readout detectors, pushing the time resolution already now into the low microsecond range.