X-ray Ptychographic Imaging and Spectroscopic Studies of Plasma-Treated Plastic Films

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a thermoplastic polyester with numerous applications in industry. However, it requires surface modification on an industrial scale for printing and coating processes and plasma treatment is one of the most commonly used techniques to increase the hydrophilicity of the PET films. Systematic improvement of the surface modification by adaption of the plasma process can be aided by a comprehensive understanding of the surface morphology and chemistry. However, imaging large surface areas (tens of microns) with a resolution that allows understanding the surface quality and modification is challenging. As a proof-of-principle, plasma-treated PET films were used to demonstrate the capabilities of X-ray ptychography, currently under development at the soft X-ray free-electron laser FLASH at DESY, for imaging macroscopic samples. In combination with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), this new technique was used to study the effects of different plasma treatment processes on PET plastic films. The studies on the surface morphology were complemented by investigations of the surface chemistry using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). While both imaging techniques consistently showed an increase in roughness and change in morphology of the PET films after plasma treatment, X-ray ptychography can provide additional information on the three-dimensional morphology of the surface. At the same time, the chemical analysis shows an increase in the oxygen content and polarity of the surface without significant damage to the polymer, which is important for printing and coating processes

CAMP@FLASH: an end-station for imaging, electron- and ion-spectroscopy, and pump–probe experiments at the FLASH free-electron laser

The non-monochromatic beamline BL1 at the FLASH free-electron laser facility at DESY was upgraded with new transport and focusing optics, and a new permanent end-station, CAMP, was installed. This multi-purpose instrument is optimized for electron- and ion-spectroscopy, imaging and pump–probe experiments at free-electron lasers. It can be equipped with various electron- and ion-spectrometers, along with large-area single-photon-counting pnCCD X-ray detectors, thus enabling a wide range of experiments from atomic, molecular, and cluster physics to material and energy science, chemistry and biology. Here, an overview of the layout, the beam transport and focusing capabilities, and the experimental possibilities of this new end-station are presented, as well as results from its commissioning

FLASH2 photon diagnostics and beamline concepts

FLASH2 is a major extention to the soft X-ray free-electron laser FLASH at DESY. An additional variable-gap undulator line in a new separate tunnel and a new experimental hall will turn FLASH into a multi-beamline FEL user facility. Years of experience as single user facility have high impact on the planned photon diagnostics. Online measurements of intensity, position, wavelength, wavefront, and pulse length are optimized as well as photon beam manipulation tools such as a gas absorber and filters. The beamline system will be set up to cover a wide wavelength range with beamlines capable to deliver down to 0.8 nm in the 5th harmonic and 1st harmonics in the water window to cover the user community's high intrest in this wavelength range. In addition, other beamlines will cover the longer wavelengths from 6 nm - 40 nm and beyond. Proven concepts like the optical laser pump-and-probe instrument are taken over from the current operation scheme in an established way. Permanent endstations with specialized beamline layouts are foreseen. Civil construction and installations in the new FLASH2 tunnel are on-going, first beam is expected for end of 2013, and a first user experiment is anticipated for summer 201