APS Upgrade Project

APS Upgrade Project
Name	Advanced Photon Source Upgrade Project
Location	Argonne National Laboratory, Illinois, United States
Coordinates	41.7100°N 87.9870°W
Established	2013 (project start)
Operator	Argonne National Laboratory
Funding	U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science
Website	Advanced Photon Source Upgrade

APS Upgrade Project

The APS Upgrade Project is a major modernization of the Advanced Photon Source located at Argonne National Laboratory near Chicago, intended to transform the facility into a fourth-generation storage-ring light source. The project replaces the original storage ring lattice with a multibend achromat design and expands beamline capabilities to serve users drawn from universities, national laboratories, industry, and international research institutions. It is funded and overseen by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science and coordinated with partners including ANL research divisions and external consortia.

Overview and Objectives

The project aims to deliver an order-of-magnitude increase in coherent X-ray brightness and improved beam stability to enable advanced studies in materials science, biology, chemistry, geoscience, and engineering. Objectives include constructing a new storage ring lattice based on a multibend achromat, commissioning novel insertion devices, upgrading front ends and optics, and delivering upgraded experimental hutches across dozens of beamlines. Strategic goals align with national priorities articulated by the Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee and consultations with international facilities such as MAX IV, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, and PETRA III.

Technical Upgrades and Architecture

Central technical changes replace the original double-bend achromat lattice with a multibend achromat (MBA) lattice to reduce emittance and increase brightness, following concepts demonstrated at MAX IV and theoretical work from accelerator physicists at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and CERN. The upgrade installs new magnet arrays, including compact dipoles, quadrupoles, sextupoles, and combined-function magnets, and incorporates state-of-the-art vacuum chambers and beam-position monitors developed in collaboration with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and industry partners. The radiofrequency (RF) system is modernized using high-efficiency klystrons and low-level RF control systems inspired by designs from DESY and Paul Scherrer Institute. Machine control and timing architectures integrate EPICS-based control systems and beam-feedback loops to support ultrastable operations for coherent scattering, coherent diffraction imaging, and ptychography experiments.

Beamlines and Instrumentation Improvements

Beamline upgrades emphasize coherent flux, optics stability, and advanced detectors. New and refurbished beamlines include hard X-ray scattering, resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), X-ray microscopy, tomography, and time-resolved pump–probe stations, developed with contributions from MIT, Stanford University, University of Chicago, and industrial partners. Optics employ high-quality X-ray mirrors, monochromators, and multilayer coatings from specialized vendors and research groups at Brookhaven National Laboratory and Diamond Light Source. Detector suites incorporate fast-framing pixel detectors pioneered at SLAC and hybrid photon-counting designs used at European XFEL, enabling experiments in coherent imaging, single-particle imaging, and operando studies.

Timeline, Budget, and Management

The APS Upgrade Project began formal planning and conceptual design in the early 2010s, entering construction and component installation phases in the late 2010s and early 2020s. Major milestones included conceptual design reviews, critical decision approvals by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, procurement of long-lead items, and phased commissioning of the upgraded storage ring. Budgetary management involves a project baseline approved by DOE, with cost and schedule oversight coordinated with Argonne senior management and external peer reviews by advisory panels including members from Oak Ridge National Laboratory and international synchrotron labs. The project faced typical challenges of large-science projects—supply-chain constraints, technical risk mitigation, and coordination with existing operations—to maintain user access and safety during construction.

Scientific Impact and User Community

The upgraded facility expands experimental capabilities for thousands of users from academic institutions such as University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, Northwestern University, University of California, Berkeley, and Yale University; corporate researchers from Boeing, 3M, Monsanto/Bayer; and national labs including Los Alamos National Laboratory and National Institute of Standards and Technology. Scientific impacts include enabling investigations into quantum materials, energy storage materials like lithium-ion batteries, protein crystallography for drug discovery, and real-time studies of catalysis and additive manufacturing. Collaborations fostered through the upgrade build on prior work published in journals associated with societies such as the American Physical Society and Materials Research Society.

Safety, Environmental, and Regulatory Compliance

Construction and operation comply with DOE orders and regulatory frameworks enforced by Illinois Department of Public Health and federal agencies; environmental assessments considered impacts on air, water, and hazardous waste consistent with National Environmental Policy Act requirements. Radiation safety practices adhere to DOE radiological control manuals and guidance from Nuclear Regulatory Commission frameworks where applicable, while occupational safety follows standards from Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Environmental monitoring, waste management, and emergency preparedness were coordinated with local authorities in DuPage County and institutional offices to minimize environmental footprint and ensure public and worker safety.

Category:Synchrotron radiation facilities Category:Argonne National Laboratory