First results from the actinide science beamline BL23SU at SPring-8

The present performance of a soft X-ray beamline BL23SU at SPring-8 is described. The resolving power realized on a varied-line-spacing plane grating monochromator connected to a variably polarizing undulator was estimated to be better than 10 000 at 400 eV and similar to 6500 at 867 eV. In addition, reasonable photon flux of more than 10(11) photons/s/100 mA/0.02% b.w. is available in the energy range of 0.5-1.8 keV at experimental stations. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.