SPB/SFX shift summary user experiment 8039

**X-ray delivery**
-15 keV with Hirex monitoring, 0.5 mJ/pulse, 202 pulses/train at 0.56 MHz pulse repetition rate

**Optical laser delivery**
-810 nm laser for illumination

**Achievements/Observations**
- Collected sample data for ca. 2h 15min using a DFFN 
- XTD2 CRLs optimized and realigned
- Offset mirror M1/M2 optimized for 15 keV
- Repositioned the illumination fiber inside IRU chamber
- Germanium blades were installed for the IRU_Slit_4 (top and bottom)

**Issues**
- PP laser alignment could not be pursued as hexapod had to be repositioned first (interaction region was too close to exit cone)

X-ray delivery

• 12.4 keV, 1.1mJ/pulse, 202 pulses/train at 0.56MHz
• Focused NKB beam was used

Optical laser delivery

• ns laser for jet visualization

Achievements/Observations

• Successfully finished all PCS beamtimes
• Stable jet with PEO sheath

Issues

• No beam in the morning
• Unstable jet with ethanol sheath

X-ray delivery
-12.4 keV, 202 pulses, 0.5 MHz, 1mJ/pulse

Optical laser delivery
- ns laser (660 nm wavelength) for jet illumination

Achievements/Observations
- NKB focus optimized
- One PCS user program successfully finished
- Second PCS user program was just started

Issues
- Right before we could start with beam defocusing, the beam was gone around 8:45 pm. BKR called to let us know that there will be no beam today (cryo issues)

X-ray delivery

    up to 202 pulses per train (~1.9 mJ pulse energy)@9.3 keV, 0.5 MHz

Optical laser delivery

    800 nm, less than 20 fs at sample position, no issue

Achievements/Observations

    X-ray beam de-focused to a few um for data taking

    PP laser aligned and timed

    runs for -1 ps - 1.5 ps

    Very stable jet

    PAM was installed

X-ray delivery

    up to 202 pulses per train (~1.9 mJ pulse energy)@9.3 keV, 0.5 MHz

Optical laser delivery

    800 nm, less than 20 fs at sample position, no issue

Achievements/Observations

    X-ray beam de-focused to a few um for data taking

    PP laser aligned and timed

    runs for -1 ps - 1.5 ps

    Very stable jet

Issues

    No major issue

X-ray delivery

    up to 202 pulses per train (~1.9 mJ pulse energy)@9.3 keV, 0.5 MHz

Optical laser delivery

    800 nm, less than 20 fs at sample position, no issue
    

Achievements/Observations

    X-ray beam de-focused to a few um for data taking

    PP laser aligned and timed

    runs for -1 ps - 1.5 ps

    Very stable jet

Issues
    No major issue

X-ray delivery

    up to 352 pulses per train (~1.9 mJ pulse energy)@9.3 keV, 0.5 MHz ans 1.1 MHz. Beamdown for 40 min.

Optical laser delivery

    800 nm, less than 20 fs at sample position, no issue

Achievements/Observations

    X-ray beam de-focused to a few um for data taking

    PP laser aligned and timed

    1 hours data collection

Issues

    AGIPD gain map was strange, some gain changes was observed without X-ray

    Data was not migrated -> DRC was called and informed

SPB/SFX 7955 Day 4

X-ray delivery

• up to 202 pulses per train (~1.4 mJ pulse energy), 0.5 MHz

• stable

Optical laser delivery

• 420nm used for sample excitation. timed to 1ps with water jet interaction

• PAM set up for time points <1 ps

• From 19:15 to 21:15 (100 uJ/cm2 data point) the feedback loops were off resulting in higher intensity fluctuations, resolved at 21:52

Achievements/Observations

• x-ray beam de-focused to a few um for data taking

• PP laser aligned and timed

• PAM calibrated and used with YAG sample surviving 13% transmission

• power titration at 100ns and fluences 13 mJ/cm2, 25 mJ/cm2, 100 mJ/cm2 and 191 mJ/cm2

• delays 100 fs and 500 fs

• good peak distribution at 13% transmission (None / None / None / 3200 CVD)

• hit rate around 6%

Issues

• problems with catcher alignment after clean up

SPB/SFX 7955 Day 3

X-ray delivery

• up to 202 pulses per train (~1.4 mJ pulse energy), 0.5 MHz.

• One longer down toward the end of the shift

Optical laser delivery

• 420nm used for sample excitation. timed to 1ps with water jet interaction

Achievements/Observations

• x-ray beam de-focused to a few um for data taking

• PP laser aligned and timed

• runs for 1ps, 100ps and 100ns pumped data sets

• hit rate much better (even > 10%) than previous day with small crystals

Issues

• a lot of nozzle exchange in the morning

• DAMNIT issue with too many queued jobs – some of the earlier jobs timed out

Preparation for user expt #7944

X-ray delivery

• Single pulses (10 Hz) at 9.3 keV, 2.3 mJ
• Again similar low pointing noise

Achievements/Observations

• Tested different substrates for deposition of ice
• Optimized ice deposition conditions
• Recorded example data to prepare analysis scripts

Handover

• Beam transport to SPB and 11 keV requested from BKR at 6:30h

SPB/SFX 7955 Day 2

**X-ray delivery**
* up to 202 pulses per train (~1.4 mJ pulse energy), 0.5 MHz.
* A few beam downs toward the end of the shift

**Optical laser delivery**
* 420nm used for sample excitation. timed to 1ps with water jet interaction

**Achievements/Observations**
* x-ray beam de-focused to a few um for data taking
* PP laser aligned and timed
* runs for 1ps pumped data set
* good peak distribution at 11% transmission (100 CVD/ 200 CVD / None / 3200 CVD)
* hit rate better than previous day

**Issues**
* a lot of nozzle exchange
* sample most likely accumulating on the catcher entrance window
* DAMNIT issue with too many queued jobs, fixed by Oleksii (OCD)

**To do for next shift**
* finish power titration and continue with other time points

Preparation for user expt #7944

X-ray delivery

• Since pulses (10 Hz) at 9.3 keV, 2.2 mJ
• Again similar low pointing noise

Achievements/Observations

• Confirmed amorphous ice deposition and -removal
• Optimized scattering geometry
• Calibrated detector position

Handover

• Beam transport to SPB and 11 keV recovered by BKR

SPB/SFX 7955 Shift 1
**X-ray delivery**
* up to 202 pulses per train (~1.4 mJ pulse energy), 0.5 MHz.

**Optical laser delivery**
* 420nm used for sample excitation. timed to 1ps with water jet interaction
* difficult to find good filter combination for jet illumination laser and pump laser

**Achievements/Observations**
* 10.8 keV - 11.2 keV energy scan
* lysozyme geometry data set
* several runs for sample dark data set (potentially more needed)
* a few runs for 1ps pumped data set (definitely more needed)

**Issues**
* difficult end to shift (nozzle and illumination issues)
* hit rate rather low for timing program (leads to long processing times)

**To do for next shift**
* continue user data set including power titration
* start time delay sequence

Preparation for user expt #7944

X-ray delivery

• since pulses (10 Hz) at 9.3 keV, 3 mJ
• Pointing stability 55 um RMS in the horizontal plane on FXE PI, which is lower as compared to earlier values

Achievements/Observations

• Aligned xrays into FXE vacuum/cryo setup
• Performed ice depositions in-situ and characterized by Xray

Handover

• Beam transport to SPB and 11 keV recovered
• We left Hirex inserted during FXE operation, but closed the GH2 shutter. It is still closed.

Issues

• XTD2 crl lens3x motor moving in wrong direction and already past all limits. Created ticket with EEE (no DOC available) #216784. Lens3x is not needed for the ongoing experiment, but the situation is potentially dangerous.

Damage on FEL imager was also seen by our morning shift around 7:50am.

X-ray delivery

• up to 202 pulses per train (~1.4 mJ pulse energy), 0.5 MHz.

Optical laser delivery

• OPO issue in the late shift
• PP laser aligned and timed both at the interaction point and in PAM

Achievements/Observations

• gotthard II used and working
• PP laser aligned and timed
• PAM aligned and timed

Issues

• issue with the OPO when we wanted to collect data

To do for next shift

• collect lysozyme for geometry and start user program

We observed a damage spot on the SA1 FEL imager. It moves with the target holder, but not sure if its damage on the optical mirror or on the target itself.

This issue is not critical, but can become problematic in case one wants to determine beam size or state of optics (ATT or CRLs) upstream.

X-ray delivery

• up to 202 pulses per train (~1 mJ pulse energy), 0.5 MHz.

Optical laser delivery

• PP laser aligned to the interaction point

Achievements/Observations
Preparation for user beamtime

• x-ray beam aligned and focused
• gotthard II ready
• PP laser aligned and ready
• ns laser aligned and ready
• inline mic aligned
   

Saturday 01.Feb around 2AM machine went down due to problems with cold magnet at A20:

https://ttfinfo.desy.de/elog/XMLlist?file=/XFELelog/data/2025/05/31.01_n/2025-02-01T07:06:16-04.xml&xsl=/elogbook/xsl/elog.xsl&picture=true

During the early morning BKR used a diffrent trajectory at LINAC to continue lasing, altough with poor performance.

A Desy expert was found (voluntary basis) to made a second ZZ in the morning between 10:30 and 12:30 which fixed the faulty relay for the quadrupole/cold magnet quench system.

Beam was restored to FXE, HED and SQS instruments at ~14:00, including the change of photon energies in SA1 and SA2 as well as pointing corrections and necessary fine tuning.

X-ray delivery

• 11.0 keV, up to 352 pulses at 1.1 MHz, 900 uJ.

Optical laser delivery

• ns illumination and pp lasers

Achievements/Observations

• Finished with Ice detection program
• Optimized the beamline alignment for the next experiment
• Checked the NKB focusing with CRL collimation: The collimated scheme resulted in smaller focus size and significantly higher intensity at focus

Issues

• PAM mirror mount is not reacheable with the SmarAct motor

A ZZ is organized to happen now, 31.01 at ~12:40, in order to reset a cabinet belonging to one of the Apple-X undulators.

This is agreed with North Branch instruments and RC/BKR.

**Update 13:25: ZZ was successful; SA1 and SA3 beams restored at 13:25

• Alignment of KB mirrors: focused beam H150-200nm x V300-350nm. Characterization of focused beam with wire scan.
• Installed ePIX table and ePIX. Thorlabs server is not running, needs to be fixed by controls during the morning shift
• Aligned rotation center of SSRY and put the beam into it. Moved alignment pin down by 10mm and put protecting cover on it.
• Aligned DES spectrometer crystal (using YAG) to 9keV.
• Checked CRL2 focusing with 9keV. Smallest is 9um (with bender adjust).
• Alexey played with Mono further, second reflection not found. Problem found with actuator.
• Tested FF data. Seems to be good.
•  

X-ray delivery

• 11.0 keV, up to 178 pulses at 564 kHz, 650 uJ.

Optical laser delivery

• illumination and pp lasers

Achievements/Observations

• Performed detector and ice detection program.

Issues

• Run Controller was crashing several times during the day. DOC was notified. They discovered that the run controller server was down and fixed the problem by restarting it.
• PP laser was not available during the day until ~ 18:30
• Some troubles with and homing of SmarAct stages after update from to the current control version. DOC was requested to roll back to the latest stable release.

On 29.01 evening the SA3 pre-absorber was interlocked due to M5 mirror.

With the help of Maurizio V., it was found the M5 RY motor has to be driven to 400um position to release the interlock condition and permit beam to SXP and SQS. This relates to a limit switch which was in a undesired location and about 1mm out of position.

The SA3 FEL imager is now protected via the Big Brother server, which creates a beam limit on the bunch pattern server if necessary.
contact Andreas Koch, Lars Fröhlich for more details or consult the imager manual, section 2.9:
https://docs.xfel.eu/share/page/site/xfelwp74/document-details?nodeRef=workspace://SpacesStore/1766b430-7c48-4c46-bb2d-1774d69e1246
demonstration 27.1.2025 to Jan Grünert, Harald Sinn, Andreas Galler.

Function: The Big Brother limits the number of pulses in SA3 via a beam limit in case of danger, individually for each screen of the FEL imager, AND only if an imager screen is inserted. The EPS is valid as before.
This means that if the EPS interlock for the FEL imager is enabled (default setting, 2 pulses maximum), the intervention by the Big Brother could reduce pulses to 1 or 0.
The potential limit of the number of pulses for each screen is shown in the FEL imager scene, as before.

Best practice: Use the GATT to limit the pulse energy. Avoid to operate with a strongly saturated image. Use low absorbing ND filters.

eLogs posts to: eLog Operation-2025,  Zulip SASE3_INSTRUMENT_COMMISSIONING, ttfinfo

1) BKR calls SUN11h20 and informs about issues with the SA1 SRA. Motors in ERROR.

2) Additionally, there was this morning a fire alarm, where in one rack (SASE1 rack 1.1 in XTD2) the gas extinguishing system was triggered, see also https://ttfinfo.desy.de/XFELelog/show.jsp?dir=/2025/03/19.01_M&pos=2025-01-19T10:22:14

PRC investigating.

BEAM STATUS: SA1 is still lasing at 1100 uJ at 9 keV, IMGFEL is inserted and beam visible. XGM and imagers operational.

• All SA1-SRA MOTORS (SA1_XTD2_PSLIT/MOTOR/) in sa1_beckhoff_mov are in ERROR and cannot be reset.
• Same for SA1_XTD2_FLT/MOTOR/TARGET (in ERROR and cannot be reset)
• SA1_XTD2_SRA_SLIT/MDL/MAIN in ERROR
• Same for SA1_XTD9_IMGPII45/MOTOR/NAVITAR_FOCUS and _ZOOM, but these karabo devices can be RESET, however Hardware State remains ERROR. Hardware interlocked.
• Same for SA1_XTD2_PES/SWITCH/G1_OK and G2_OK, but these karabo devices can be RESET, and the Hardware State here is then OFF. Hardware REGION is normal.
• SA1_XTD2_PES/SERIAL/V101256D and SA1_XTD2_PES/VALVE/V101256D in ERROR, can be reset. the STATE = NORMAL.
• Also found in ERROR: SA1_XTD2_WATCHDOG/MDL/STOP2_BKG_IMGFEL (but can be reset, is stopped).
• BeckhoffPlcMonitor SA1_BR_SYS/PLC/MOV_PLCMON in ERROR, can be reset, Hardware state NORMAL.
• SA1_XTD9_MIRR/ACTRL/RZ in ERROR (not the other related motors)
• SA1_XTD2_PSLIT/LVDT/BLADE... all in ERROR, can be reset, then hardware state ON. Hardware error description: "PLC Error: Terminal is not operational"
• SA1_XTD9_MIRR/ASESN/RY and RZ in ERROR, can be reset, then hardware state ON. Hardware error description: "0xc009"
• SA1_BR_SYS/PLC/XFELO_PLCMON in ERROR, can be reset, Hardware state NORMAL.
• SA1_XTD2_DOOCS/CAM/OTRC_2615_T9 (DOOCS-to-karabo bridge for transmissive imager) not instantiated. I instantiate it, there are no issues, works fine.
• Everything OK with SA1 vacuum devices.

Actions for BKR to continue SASE tuning:

1. The IMGFEL image is oversaturated. Changing to BN. The beam is at (13.5mm / 4mm), while the handover cross is at (12.75, 5.22mm). Beam is clipping at the top SRA blade.
2. inserting transmissive imager (YAG). Beam is fully visible and centered at X=1045,Y=1140. Instruction to BKR to use this imager to shift the beam center, and then continue on IMGFEL.

Further actions:

1. Information to DRC (Bruno)
2. He will inform EEE-OCD to look into the issue and see what they might be able to fix without an access. 
3. If they find out an access is required to fix hardware in XTD2, we will request an access (probably not today but MON or TUE). 
4. A redmine ticket of DOC will collect the infos from DRC and EEE-OCD.

A similar issue at SA1 XTD2 rack 1.1 had occurred in November 2024, see https://in.xfel.eu/elog/OPERATION-2024/205

Updates MON morning:

• EEE made the access request and it was scheduled for MON 10am: #215916 - Suspected blown fuse replacement in Rack 1.1
   

The image intensifier in the SQS Exit Slit imager had been exchanged on request of SQS, Thomas Baumann.
Model: Hamamatsu MCP C9546-03-Y001 against C9546-01.
The position of the YAG screen on the camera is slightly shifted which may slightly affect the spectral axis, a few pixels vertically, and approximately 15 pixels horizontally.
The image scale by zoom had not been changed, as before 13 µm/pixel.