Fast X-ray imaging beamline at SSRF

The fast X-ray imaging beamline (BL16U2) at Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility (SSRF) is a new beamline that provides X-ray micro-imaging capabilities across a wide range of time scales, spanning from 100 ps to μs and ms. This beamline has been specifically designed to facilitate the investigation of a wide range of rapid phenomena, such as the deformation and failure of materials subjected to intense dynamic loads. In addition, it enables the study of high-pressure and high-speed fuel spray processes in automotive engines. The light source of this beamline is a cryogenic permanent magnet undulator (CPMU) that is cooled by liquid nitrogen. This CPMU can generate X-ray photons within an energy range of 8.7–30 keV. The beamline offers two modes of operation: monochromatic beam mode with a liquid nitrogen-cooled double-crystal monochromator (DCM) and pink beam mode with the first crystal of the DCM out of the beam path. Four X-ray imaging methods were implemented in BL16U2: single-pulse ultrafast X-ray imaging, microsecond-resolved X-ray dynamic imaging, millisecond-resolved X-ray dynamic micro-CT, and high-resolution quantitative micro-CT. Furthermore, BL16U2 is equipped with various in situ impact loading systems, such as a split Hopkinson bar system, light gas gun, and fuel spray chamber. Following the completion of the final commissioning in 2021 and subsequent trial operations in 2022, the beamline has been officially available to users from 2023.