TPU scientists launched manufacturing of the Microfocus station for SKIF

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TPU scientists launched manufacturing of the Microfocus station for SKIF

Tomsk Polytechnic University together with its partners has completed the second stage of the construction of Microfocus station, a part of the Siberian Ring Photon Source (SKIF). The scientists will work on the production of the system until August 2024, in order to complete the installation and commissioning works in the experimental hall of SKIF by the end of 2024.

The Microfocus station is the first in the project's internal numbering and the third SKIF station to go into production. Thanks to an advanced X-ray beam focusing system, it will be able to study micro-objects down to 200 nanometres in size, and its speciality will be X-ray microscopy and microtomography combined with high-resolution scanning X-ray fluorescence analysis and structural studies of crystals under high pressure. The total weight of the future facility will be more than 120 tonnes and its cost is estimated at more than RUB 1 billion.

At present, we have completed the design documentation and constructed some elements of the station. The required set of documents was handed over to the customer and approved by a special commission, which gave permission to proceed with production. The total size of documentation in electronic form exceeds 3.6 GB,

- says Alexey Gogolev, Head of Advanced Research Department and Project Manager at TPU The team collaborating on this project includes experts from the Science and Education Centre for Advanced Research of Tomsk Polytechnic University and Novosibirsk State Technical University (NSTU NETI), the Institute of Microstructure Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the V.S. Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Tomsk Polytechnic University is acting as an integrator and is also responsible for the development of containment structures, software, mechatronics, detection systems and engineering systems.

"According to the production schedule, the granite bases for the precision equipment should be ready for installation first. Then the confinement structures will be installed to ensure radiation safety during operation. We started shipping the first elements to Novosibirsk in early December. After the confinement structures, all the technical networks will be installed, including electrical, cooling, ventilation and conditioning systems, gas system, control and communication networks. Once these systems are in place, the basic elements of the channel optics - filters, slots, shutters, etc. - should be ready. In the final stage, the main elements of the optics will be installed. These include mirror and crystal monochromators, as well as focusing optics (mirror and refractive optics based on beryllium lenses). Finally, automation systems and specialized software will be installed, including software developed by Tomsk Polytechnic University, which has already been included in the register of Russian Federation software by the Ministry of Digital Media," adds Alexey Gogolev.