The heart of the upgraded APS is a new multi-bend achromat lattice, assembled in the same facility as the original APS, re-using the infrastructure already in place. The new storage ring will result in X-ray beams that are up to 500 times brighter than those generated by the original APS.

The new storage ring incorporates 1,321 powerful new magnets, each up to five times stronger than the ones that made up the original storage ring. These magnets – 15 different types of them – are designed to steer and focus the electron beam into a much tighter shape. The original electron beam measured 10 microns vertically and 275 microns horizontally, while the upgraded APS’s electron beam will measure about 4 microns vertically and 15 microns horizontally in brightness mode.

These magnets were assembled into 200 modules, and the centers of each magnet are precisely aligned, within a 30-micron tolerance. A newly designed vacuum system will keep the electron beam in place, essentially recreating the vacuum conditions of deep space within chambers that are only up to an inch wide. New front end systems have been installed at all sectors, and will safely deliver the brighter X-ray beams to the beamlines.

The new storage ring will use a swap-out technique for injecting electrons, constantly replenishing the beam as it circulates. New components have been designed to make this possible. Argonne’s expertise in superconducting technology has been put to use with a new bunch lengthening system that extends the life of the electron beam. Superconducting undulator magnets have been installed at several beamlines to generate brighter X-ray beams.

These innovations combine to create a facility that will deliver world-leading ultrabright, high-coherence X-ray beams for the global scientific community.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the magnets of the new storage ring.