TXPES end station installed at SESAME

In a significant development for the TXPES (Turkish soft X-ray PhotoElectron Spectroscopy) beamline project, led by TENMAK (Turkish Energy, Nuclear, and Mineral Research Agency), the TXPES end station was successfully installed at SESAME in October 2024. This beamline being constructed by Türkiye, a founding Member of SESAME, will be the first to be installed at SESAME by one of its Members, and will mark a crucial step forward in enhancing the region’s capabilities for advanced research in materials science, surface chemistry, and electronic structure analysis. The first tests of the end station were conducted in December 2024 using its dual anode sources (Al and Mg) that provide reliable performance and precise calibration.

The ID11R-TXPES beamline, a collaborative project with contributions from Ankara University, Koç University, Bilkent University, and TARLA (Turkish Accelerator and Radiation Laboratory), will be an essential scientific resource at SESAME. TARLA, based in Ankara, Türkiye, is responsible for manufacturing the X-ray optics and UHV (ultra-high vacuum) transfer line for the beamline. Full installation of the ID11R-TXPES beamline at SESAME is scheduled for the first half of 2025, following the integration of the end station. The beamline will share the undulator-based photon source and monochromator design with the ID11L-HESEB (HElmholtz-SESAME Beamline) beamline, covering a photon energy range of 90 to 2000 eV. This setup will enable high-resolution studies of surface and interface properties across a broad spectrum of materials.

The installed end station of the ID11R-TXPES beamline includes advanced chambers and capabilities, such as:

1. An Analysis Chamber equipped with XPS (X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy), UPS (Ultra-violet Photoelectron Spectroscopy), ARPES  (Angle-Resolved Photoelectron Spectroscopy), and LEIS (Low Energy Ion Scattering) for elemental analysis, chemical state determination, surface-sensitive investigations, and momentum-resolved electronic structure mapping.
2. A Preparation Chamber to support thin film growth under UHV conditions, thus enabling in situ deposition and real-time monitoring. The chamber also features a LEED (Low Energy Electron Diffraction) system for surface crystallography.
3. A High-Pressure Cell that facilitates the study of catalytic processes and surface reactions under realistic conditions, bridging the gap between UHV experiments and practical applications.
4. A Load-Lock System that allows rapid sample transfer without breaking vacuum, thereby improving operational efficiency and preserving sample integrity.

Once operational, the ID11R-TXPES beamline will enable cutting-edge elemental analysis, chemical state studies, and electronic structure investigations, including ARPES, for studying the band structure of materials. These capabilities will further SESAME’s role as a leading hub for scientific innovation and international collaboration in the region.