MARS
Multi Analyses on Radioactive Samples : MARS
Characterizing radioactive samples for environmental, health and energy applications
MARS beamline is aiming to extend the research capabilities on radioactive matter (α, ß, γ and n emitters) towards the use of synchrotron radiation in multidisciplinary fields (biology, chemistry, physics) with respect to national and European safety laws.
This station is proposed for High Resolution X-ray Diffraction characterisations on powder samples.
This beamline is listed under authorization from ASN (French Authority for Nuclear Security). Because of its special characteristics the total equivalent activities present at the same time including the storage on the beamline can be up to 185 GBq with a maximum of 18.5 GBq (0.5 Ci) per sample.
The design of MARS beamline (infrastructure and optics) is also optimized to alternatively run two experimental stations in order to perform characterizations with transmission and high resolution X-ray powder-diffraction (XRD), Wide Angle X-ray Scattering (WAXS), Small Angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), standard and high resolution X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XANES, EXAFS and HERFD-XANES) and microbeam techniques (microXRF, XAS, XRD).
Current status (2021):
Currently, the following configurations are operational:
- Transmission XRD mode with 2D image plate detector;
- Standard XAS mode in transmission or in fluorescence with solid state detector (different options available);
- HERFD-XANES mode with our crystal analyser spectrometer (R=1m or R= 0.5m);
- Microbeam XRF, XAS and XRD mode;
- High Resolution XRD mode on dedicated diffractometer.
Team
* External service provider, temporary or collaborator
Beamline news
All Mars's news
SOLEIL Highlights 2024
SOLEIL's contribution to the Energy Transition
Videos
All videos's Mars
The lights of SOLEIL
Peak activity on the MARS beamline
Employment
Click here to access to the SOLEIL employment web page
Technical data
- Energy range
-
Between 3.5 to 36 keV (3.5 to 21 keV for focused beam)
- Energy Resolution
-
ΔE/E < 3. 10-4
- Source
-
Bending Magnet, maximum horizontal acceptance 3 mrad
- Optics
-
Two long mirrors and one monochromator (DCM, with Si111 from 3.5 to 12keV and Si220 from 10 to 36keV)
- Sample Environment
-
MARS beamline offers various sample environments, which have already been validated by the radioprotection safety of SOLEIL. We invite you to contact us to determine what is the best for your needs.
Non-exhaustive list of options available:
- Double-barrier confinements for ambient T and P measurements
- Cryostats (liquid nitrogen or liquid helium) and corresponding sample holders
- Electrochemical cell
- Glove box (for second confinement change)
- Shielding of the end-stations for highly irradiating samples
- Beam size on sample
-
The incident beam can be focused down to 250x150 µm2 (HxV) or 15x15 µm2 with additional K.B. optics (FWHM).
- Flux on sample
-
About 1.10+12 Phot/s @ 10 keV (beam current 500 mA)
- Detectors
-
- 2D detectors: imageplate (MAR345), Pilatus CdTe
- Solid state detectors: multi-element Ge (ORTEC), silicon drift (Ketek), and other options available
- 4-crystal analyzer spectrometer with R-0.5m or 1-crystal analyzer spectrometer with R=1m.
Scientific Opportunities
Environment |
|
|---|
Experimental end stations:
mars_endstations_2011_2nd_sem.pdf (1.78 MB - pdf)
Media Folder:- Since 2019, radioactive samples with activities up to 2.106 times the French exemption limit for certain radionuclides are allowed on the beamline (only for measurements at ambient temperature and pressure).
The detailled list of radionuclides and maximum activity accepted is attached here: Liste Radionucléides autorisés en catégorie F0. - Safety rules and proceedures to bring samples at SOLEIL can be found here: (visit the safety requirement page here),