mySpot: a versatile microfocussing station for scanning methods at BESSY II

Abstract

mySpot is a versatile microfocussing station for scanning methods with resolution down to 1.5 µm, providing a combination of methods which can be performed simultaneously at the same sample position. It is especially designed (but not limited to) for the study of hierarchically structured biological samples. Structural information from different length scales (XRD - crystalline, SAXS - nanometer, Video-microscope - micrometer, sample translation - milimeter) can be combined with chemical information (XRF-mapping, EXAFS, XANES) and molecular information (Raman) providing unique insight into the mutual dependencies of different parameters. The beamline provides focal spot of about 500x50µm, which can be refocused at the sample using capillary optics. Capillary optics is used for two main reasons: 1) the focal spot does not depend on the energy which makes EXAFS and XANES measurements very simple, and 2) the optics is positioned very close to the sample which improves the stability of the focus at the sample. This allows the focal spot of 1.5 µm in 2D scans, as well as very parallel beam for scattering experiments down to 10µm, or volume element of 20µm diameter for 3D XRF mapping.