New soft X-ray facility SINS for surface and nanoscale science at SSLS

Abstract: The first soft X-ray facility at the Singapore Synchrotron Light Source was built by FMB and commissioned in 2003. Dubbed SINS for surface, interface, and nanostructure science, it covers a photon energy range from 50 to 1200eV. The photon beam can be set to left circular, right circular or linear polarization by changing the pitch and vertical position of the vertical focusing mirror of the prefocusing optics. The typical resolution (E/ΔE) and flux are about 1000 at 1010 photons/s or exceeding 4000 at 108 photons/s in a spot of about 1.5mm×0.2mm on the sample. The performance of the beamline was measured using gas photoionization spectra of Ar, He, Kr, and N2 as well as an XMCD spectrum of a Ni sample. From the Ni XMCD signal, calculation shows that the degree of circular polarization can reach 95% at 850eV photon energy. The end-station is presently equipped with a hemispherical electron energy analyzer and typical surface science diagnostics including LEED and ion sputtering. Upgrading with an in situ STM/AFM and a growth chamber is underway which will make SINS a unique tool for in situ surface and nanoscale science studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]