The ID23-1 structural biology beamline at the ESRF

The demand for access to macromolecular crystallography synchrotron beam time continues to increase. To meet this demand the ESRF has constructed a dual station beamline using a canted undulator system as the X-ray source. The first phase of the beamline to be constructed is ID23-1, a tunable MAD-capable station with a mini-focus X-ray beam. The beamline makes use of well characterized optical elements: a channel-cut monochromator with a high-precision toroidal mirror to focus the X-ray beam. The beamline has been conceived with the aim of providing high levels of automation to create an industrial-like environment for protein crystallography. A new software suite has been developed to permit reliable easy operation for the beamline users and beamline staff. High levels of diagnostics are built in to allow rapid troubleshooting. These developments are now being exported to the ESRF macromolecular crystallography beamline complex and have been made in a modular fashion to facilitate transportability to other synchrotrons.