Sample Alignment Quick Reference

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Prior to this section make sure beamline alignment has been performed (Beamline Alignment Quick Reference)

1) Verify optic alignment
Perform CCD changeover to Coolsnap
Drive focusing optic into beam, adjust OSAX and OSAY so outgoing focused beam is not clipped and remnant central parallel beam intensity is minimized
Close NES slits to 0.1x0.1, adjust FOMX and FOMY to center optic on beam axis - outgoing wavefront clipped by slits should look symmetric around the edges
Record this as your "optic in" position, move FOMX so parallel beam is unobstructed with NES slits at 1x1 (should be ~+4000 relative move) - this is your "parallel beam" position

NOTES:
i) Central stop may be offset from the center of optic - do not simply put image of central stop in the center of the beam footprint when aligning optic

2) Mount and visually inspect sample
Move Objective Y to 0.0, rotate Sample Theta to 90 degrees, vent chamber
Remove old sample, slide new sample stick into machined slot, verify sample is flush with bottom of slot
Pump down chamber
View sample from top camera, roughly adjust SAMZ to put surface on marked focal plane
View sample from upstream camera, roughly adjust SAMY to put intended scanning region on marked focal spot

NOTES:
i) Camera positions will not be accurate until chamber is pumped down

3) Flatten sample with x-rays
If phi alignment is necessary, move SAMX so a side edge of the sample is visible in downstream parallel beam image
Observe edge position under SAMY motion of +/-1000, adjust Sample Phi until visible edge is parallel to this motion
Rotate Sample Theta to 0.0 degrees
Move SAMX so the front face of the sample is visible as an edge in the downstream parallel beam image
Adjust Sample Theta to find crossover between leading edge and trailing edge obstructing beam, set this to be user Theta=0.0
Observe surface edge position under SAMY motion of +/-1000, adjust Sample Chi until visible edge is parallel to this motion

NOTES:
i) Stop coarse motors frequently during these steps
ii) Make sure SAMY ends back up at coarse height found above at the end of this section

4) Parallel beam diffraction alignment
Mark NES slit center in Coolsnap image with crosshair
Calculate substrate scattering condition using Bragg law calculator, drive Sample Theta and detector Two Theta to these values (keep surface on focal plane with SAMZ)
Position fluorescent screen in front of Coolsnap viewable by outboard camera, find and coarsely optimize reflection using Sample Theta, remove screen
Close NES vertical slits to 0.1, adjust Sample Chi to align streak vertically with marked slit center
Open NES vertical slits, fine scan Sample Theta to maximize integrated ROI signal
Close NES horizontal slits to 0.1, adjust detector Two theta to center reflection on marked slit center
Re-open NES slits to 1x1, if any contrast is visible center intended scanning area in beam footprint using SAMX and SAMY (keep on focal plane with SAMZ)
Calculate the difference between the film scattering condition and the substrate scattering condition using Bragg law calculator(keep on focal plane with SAMZ)
Make a two positioner theta/two theta scan relative to the current position encompassing both the substrate peak and the film peak

NOTES:
i) Stop coarse motors frequently during these steps
ii) Increase counting time substantially relative to substrate peak and view th/tth scan in log scale to find the film peak

NOTES:
i) Stop coarse motors frequently during these steps
ii) Make sure SAMY ends back up at coarse height found above at the end of this section