BM02 - IR (Infrared) spectromicroscopy beamline

Illuminating the molecular world with infrared brilliance

The SESAME BM02-IR beamline, operational since November 2018, is a cutting-edge facility serving the global Infrared scientific community with reliable capacity and advanced capabilities. The beamline was designed and built in collaboration with the French light source, SOLEIL. Dedicated for Synchrotron Radiation Fourier Transform Infrared Spectromicroscopy (SR-µFTIR), it uses a high-performance FTIR interferometer and harnesses infrared synchrotron radiation from both the bending magnet (BM) and edge radiation (ER) sources.

This vibrational technique, when coupled with synchrotron brilliance, delivers up to 1000× brighter signals than conventional thermal sources, with unique advantages in time structure, polarization, and broad wavelength coverage spanning the mid-IR (2.5–25 µm) and extending into the far-IR/THz region. The beamline provides powerful tools for non-destructive and spatially resolved chemical analysis. By integrating Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometry with advanced microscopy, the beamline enables scientists to identify and image IR-active vibrational modes at the diffraction-limited microscopic scale. In particular, it measures optically active molecular vibrations at the micro- and nano-scale, generating highly specific, spatially distributed chemical fingerprints. Diverse fields from material science and forensics, geology to mineralogy, food and agriculture, water and soil pollution and environmental studies, to pharma, biomedicine and life sciences, as well as cultural heritage, archaeology, palaeontology and art restoration.

With diffraction-limited spatial resolution and superior signal-to-noise ratios, the BM02-IR beamline opens new frontiers for discovery, offering scientists a powerful tool to explore the molecular world in unprecedented detail.

SESAME Joins INFN-CHNet with New Cultural Heritage Laboratory

In 2022, SESAME inaugurated a new laboratory dedicated to cultural heritage as part of the Cultural Heritage Network, CHNet, of the Italian National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN). This important milestone marked SESAME’s official inclusion in the network, reinforcing international collaboration. To support advanced research, INFN has equipped the BM02-IR beamline with a state-of-the-art endstation providing powerful tools for non-invasive analysis, enabling researchers to explore and safeguard cultural treasures. For more information, click here

Infrared (IR) spectromicroscopy is a non-destructive vibrational technique that has gained strong interest at synchrotron facilities worldwide. It combines the spatial resolution of a microscope with the high chemical sensitivity of an FTIR spectrometer, offering powerful insights into material composition.

Synchrotron IR sources provide significant advantages over conventional Globar sources. Thanks to their brightness and brilliance, around 1000 times higher, they deliver a superior signal-to-noise ratio. The mid-infrared region (2.5–25 µm / 4000–400 cm⁻¹) is particularly informative at the microscopic scale, since most molecular groups exhibit vibrational energies in this range. Importantly, spatial resolution is determined not by aperture size but by the numerical aperture of the optical system and the wavelength of light, achieving diffraction-limited spot sizes of ~3–10 µm in confocal geometry.

Conventional sources typically use less than 1% of emitted light in diffraction-limit setups, whereas synchrotron sources are optimally matched, ensuring efficient use of radiation.

At SESAME, the BM02-IR beamline has been designed to cover both the mid-IR (2.5–25 µm) and far-IR (25–1000 µm) regions. With a maximum acceptance opening angle of 39 mrad (H) × 15 mrad (V), it harnesses infrared synchrotron emission from two radiation sources: the bending magnet’s constant field (BM) and edge radiation (ER). The optical system was carefully engineered to transport SRIR radiation to the experimental endstation with minimal aberrations, ensuring optimal beam delivery.

To achieve this, SESAME’s design was validated using advanced simulation software packages such as SRW and SPOT X, guaranteeing precision in beamline performance and reliability for cutting-edge research.

Dual-Beam Design and Future Scalability

The SESAME BM02-IR beamline has been purposefully engineered with scalability at its core. Its dual-beam design delivers radiation to the experimental floor, enabling the operation of two independent end stations without requiring any redesign of the original setup.

During the initial development phase, one end station will be made operational. As user demand grows and scientific applications diversify, a second end station can be seamlessly integrated into the system. This forward-looking design ensures SESAME can adapt to evolving research needs with minimal effort.

To support this flexibility, an easy mirror-swapping mechanism has been incorporated. This allows simultaneous operation of both modes or end stations, maximizing efficiency, adaptability, and productivity for a wide range of experiments.

Synchrotron beam Coupling with the FTIR Spectrometer

The coupling box, positioned between the final KBr window (beamline termination) and the FTIR spectrometer, reshapes the divergent rectangular beam into a more collimated form. This collimated beam enters the interferometer and can be adjusted along the X and Z axes, as well as tilted, to optimize alignment with the IR/Vis microscope.

Experimental endstations – Instrumentation and Setup

The BM02-IR beamline endstation has been designed for optimum performance across the mid- to far-IR range. A comprehensive suite of detectors, both single point and array, equip the endstation to fully cover the IR spectrum.

To meet the wide variety of scientific applications, the endstation offers a versatile range of sample environments and sampling methods. These are complemented by off-line services for sample preparation, handling, and advanced data analysis, ensuring researchers have the tools and support needed for high-quality investigations.

The SESAME BM02-IR beamline is currently equipped with state-of-the-art endstation of the Bruker© Vertex 70v FTIR FTIR spectrometer coupled to Hyperion 3000 IR-vis Microscope. 

Additionally, the beamline is also giving access to a second offline endstation (Globar IR source) equipped with Thermo Scientific© 8700 FTIR spectrometer coupled to Nicolet Continuum XL IR-microscope.

Note: This input is synced with WayForLight.

Peak-to-Peak interferogram values for both the SESAME BM02-IR beamline SR-IR (at 200 mA) and the Globar source at different aperture sizes. [Gihan Kamel et al. First IR beamline at SESAME, J. Synchrotron Rad. (2021), 28, 1927–1934]

100% lines of SR-IR and Globar signals through a 20µmx20µm aperture demonstrating their signal-to-noise ratio. The SRS 100% line has been offset for clarity. [Gihan Kamel et al. First IR beamline at SESAME, J. Synchrotron Rad. (2021), 28, 1927–1934]

Molecular Spectroscopy and Vibrational Modes

Molecular spectroscopy uses electromagnetic radiation as a physical stimulus to probe the vibrational properties of molecules. When infrared (IR) radiation interacts with matter, it excites specific vibrational modes of chemical bonds, producing a spectrum that serves as a molecular fingerprint. The level of detail achieved depends on the instrumentation and the IR source whether conventional IR, synchrotron radiation, or IR lasers.

Key Vibrational Modes

• Stretching vibrations (Symmetric and Asymmetric): involve the periodic lengthening and shortening of chemical bonds.
• Bending vibrations: Changes in bond angles rather than bond lengths.
  • Scissoring: two atoms move toward and away from each other.
  • Rocking: atoms move in the same direction, like a pendulum.
  • Wagging: atoms move up and down out of the molecular plane.
  • Twisting: atoms move in opposite directions out of the plane.

These vibrational modes occur in the mid-infrared region (2.5–25 µm / 4000–400 cm⁻¹), where most functional groups have characteristic absorption bands. This makes IR spectroscopy especially powerful for identifying molecular structures and functional groups.

Infrared spectra can be collected using several complementary modes, each suited to specific sample types and research needs:

• Transmission mode: The simplest approach, requiring thin samples typically 5–30 µm in thickness. It is ideal for polymers, biological tissues, geological specimens, and organic materials.
• Reflection mode: Here, the IR beam penetrates the sample, reflects off the substrate, and passes back through the objective. This method is best for highly reflective or polished samples that cannot be sectioned thinly. Coating thicknesses usually range from 1-10 µm, and smooth, flat surfaces are essential to minimize scattering and background oscillations. In special cases, irregular surfaces can be pressed to align with the incident light and microscope stage.
• Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR): ATR probes the near-surface region of materials and is particularly useful for liquids, semi-solids, and pliable solids such as rubber and plastics. The sample is placed in contact with a high-refractive-index crystal (ZnSe, Ge, Si, or diamond), where total internal reflection generates an evanescent wave that penetrates the sample surface. This technique is effective for opaque or thick samples unsuitable for transmission.
• Grazing incidence FTIR: A specialized method for analyzing thin films on reflective substrates, often less than 1 µm thick. Measurements are taken at a controlled angle of incidence, using a Schwarzschild objective with a beam mask to transmit only grazing rays. This enhances sensitivity to ultra-thin coatings.

Modalities

FTIR spectroscopy

IR Microscopy: chemical mapping, chemical imaging.

Equipment available on site

Specac Omni-Cell™ | Demountable Liquid Cell for FTIR transmission mode
Specac Mini Pellet Press™ | FTIR transmission mode
Specac Micro Compression Cell™ | FTIR transmission mode
Specac DC-3 | Diamond Compression Cell™ | FTIR microscopy in transmission mode
Specac Monolayer Grazing Angle Specular Reflectance™ | FTIR specular reflection mode
Pike Technologies MIRacle™ cell | FTIR single reflection mode
Bruker 20x ATR Ge Objective™
Thermo Scientific Slide-on 15x ATR Si Objective™
Leica DMi1 inverted microscope™
Optika B-350 optical Stereomicroscope™
SLEE MEV + cryostat™
Shenyang Kejing SYJ-150 Precision Low Speed Diamond Saw™
Leco PX300 Dual Grinder-Polisher System™

Equipment that can be brought by the user

Temperature and pressure cells for in-situ measurements.

Possibility to connect external endstation

Thermo Scientific TOM Optical Module™ | Polarization-Modulation for:
(i) IRRAS: Infrared Reflection-Absorption Spectroscopy. (ii) VLD: Vibrational Linear Dichroism (iii) DIRLD: Dynamic Infrared Linear Dichroism.

• Control software type
  • Beamline Control: EPICS^© (EPICS - Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System)
  • Beamline Standard endstation: OPUS^® 8.5 (SP1) Build 8,7,10 Proprietary software 
  • (^©Bruker Optik GmbH 2020).
  • Beamline offline endstation: OMNIC^® 9.2.41, OMNICMC^® v 9.1.0, OMNIC Atlus^® 9.1.24. (^©Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. 1992-2012)


• Data output type

Transmittance/Reflectance/Absorbance IR single spectra, interferograms, visible images, and hyperspectral images/chemical maps.

• Data output format
  • Standard endstation: OPUS files as single spectra and maps 
  • Offline endstation: OMNIC files as single spectra and maps 


• Software for data analysis

The BM02-IR beamline offers on-site and remote access to the following packages:

• OPUS^® 8.5 (SP1) Build 8,7,10 (^©Bruker Optik GmbH 2020),
• OMNIC^® 9.2.41, OMNICMC^® v 9.1.0, OMNIC Atlus^® 9.1.24. (^©Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. 1992-2012),
• The Unscrambler X^® v 10.4. (^© CAMO Analytics),
• CytoSpec^® v 1.3.02. (^©2000-2020 Peter Lasch),
• PeakFit v4.12 (^©Systat Software, USA),
• Quasar^®.

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Gihan KAMEL
IR Beamline Principal Scientist and Team Supervisor
Email: gihan.kamel@sesame.org.jo
Work Tel: +962 5 351 1348  (Ext. 240) 

Yuko MIYAUCHI
JSPS Overseas Research Fellow
Email: yuko.miyauchi@sesame.org.jo
Work Tel: +962 5 351 1348  (Ext. 275)