X-ray Methodologies and Instrumentation
Scientific breakthroughs often arise from advances in instrumentation and methodology. Leveraging our strong tradition, we are developing X-ray spectroscopy and scattering for applications in functional materials, device physics, environmental, biophysical, and the chemical sciences, and in atomic and molecular physics.
The research programmes Condensed Matter Physics of Energy Materials and Chemical and Bio-Molecular Physics are strongly involved in utilizing and developing X-ray techniques for investigating the electronic structure of matter and materials. We run several laboratories and instruments within our division and we are active at synchrotron radiation and X-ray free-electron laser facilities around the world. We are especially active at MAX IV, BESSY II, and the European XFEL, where we participate in the development of new beamlines and end stations.
HELIOS
The HELIOS laboratory includes two femtosecond XUV sources and a THz source driven by two amplified femtosecond lasers. These sources are used for studying transient electronic structures and their couplings with nuclear and spin dynamics, providing insights into ultrafast processes at the atomic level.
Kai Siegbahn Laboratory
The Kai Siegbahn laboratory includes a combined XPS/HAXPES instrument with monochromatic Al Kα (1.49 keV) and Ga Kα (9.25 keV) X-ray sources and a hemispherical electron analyzer. Solid samples, both conducting and non-conducting, can be measured under ultrahigh vacuum (5⋅10-10 mbar) conditions. The instrument capabilities include cooling to liquid nitrogen temperatures and heating to 600 °C. A four-probe sample connector allows measurements during applied potential or current in situ.
LigHt
The LigHt infrastructure introduces groundbreaking experimental methods that combine advanced spectroscopy and spectrometry. These methods are integrated for use on a wide range of inorganic and organic systems under operando conditions. The LigHt infrastructure, in conjunction with the tools available at the TANDEM lab, includes SIMS, XRD, and extended pressure HAXPES, enabling simultaneous studies of element concentration, chemical state, and structure.
Quantum Lab
The quantum-lab includes optical MOKE microscopy, AC and DC electrical transport measurements, STM, AFM, and a dilution refrigerator. It is designed for advanced studies in device physics, providing a comprehensive suite of tools for exploring quantum phenomena at low temperatures.
Synchrotrons
A range of synchrotron radiation facilities are used to study energy and quantum materials, as well as systems in atomic, molecular and optical physics, biophysics and the chemical sciences about 20 weeks/year. The work includes the development of operando capabilities at beamlines for hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES), angle resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (ARPES), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) and high energy resolution fluorescence detection (HERFD). Through the Uppsala Berlin Joint Laboratory two beamlines have been initiated and established at the BESSY II synchrotron in Berlin, and a high resolution resonant inelastic X-ray scattering spectrometer (RIXS) at MAX IV has been built in.
Uppsala Berlin joint Laboratory (UBjL)
The photoelectric effect and the chemical shift, discovered at Uppsala University, laid the foundation for ESCA and Hans Siegbahn's Nobel Prize in Physics in 1924. The Uppsala Berlin Joint Lab has advanced these methods by combining the BESSY II time structure with angle resolved time of flight detection, including the ARTOF spectrometer, which provides major gains in efficiency and enables dedicated instruments for low dose spectroscopy, coincidence spectroscopy and surface dynamics. These unique tools allow detailed studies of electronic structure and dynamics in highly sensitive functional materials.
X-ray Free-electron Lasers
We use X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) with their unprecedented peak brightness throughout the X-ray spectrum for time-resolved X-ray spectroscopy, scattering and diffraction. We are exploring new opportunities enabled by the intense XFEL pulses with both femtosecond and attosecond durations. We contribute to the development of new end stations and capabilities at XFELs including a 1-dimensional imaging RIXS spectrometer at the SQS instrument of the European XFEL.
Research leaders
- Olle Björneholm
- Sergei Butorin, Advanced x-ray spectroscopic methods for energy materials
- Carl Caleman
- Ute Cappel, Optoelectronics and time-resolved spectroscopy
- Laurent Duda, Resonant Inelastic X-ray Scattering and Energy materials
- Maria Hahlin, Functionality of battery materials
- Olof Karis
- Rebecka Lindblad, Corrosion and in-situ photoelectron spectroscopy
- Andreas Lindblad, The physics of surfaces and interfaces characterized with X-rays
- Venkata Kamalakar Mutta, Quantum Material Devices involving charge, spin and orbital dynamics
- Håkan Rensmo, Energy materials research
- Jan-Erik Rubensson
- Anders Sandell, X-ray fluorescence and infrared spectromicroscopy
- Johan Söderström
- Nicusor Timneanu
- Philippe Wernet
Contact
- Programme Professor Condensed Matter Physics of Energy Materials
- Håkan Rensmo
- Head of Division
- Nicusor Timneanu
- Visiting address: Ångström Laboratory, Regementsvägen 10, house 6, floor 0.