SwissFEL Maloja Experimental Station

The Maloja endstation is located at the soft X-ray branch Athos of SwissFEL and is dedicated to atomic, molecular and non-linear X-ray physics and chemical dynamics. It will take direct advantage of the novel X-ray beam modes from the Athos branch at SwissFEL. With the highly flexible Maloja endstation, we will be able to trace electronic structure changes and nuclear rearrangement on their natural time scales of femtoseconds to attoseconds, to exploit the state selectivity of X-rays for spatial resolution, and to explore novel opportunities in nonlinear X-ray spectroscopy and single-shot imaging. Maloja will enable innovative research on the ultrafast dynamics of gas-phase atoms, molecules, and clusters as well as liquids and nanoparticles.

The Maloja endstation is currently under construction and early commissioning. We have received first, unfocused light in the endstation in June 2020. The focusing optics will be installed and commissioned in Fall 2020.

User operations is anticipated to start in mid 2021. Check back often for updates on the user program.

Maloja is designed as a highly flexible endstation covering a wide range of experimental techniques, including electron and ion spectrometers as well as large-area detectors for ultrafast imaging. The endstation consists of four interaction points that can each accommodate the various spectrometers and sample delivery systems. The best X-ray focus of an estimated 1 micrometer (FWHM) will be achieved in the first interaction point closest to the KB mirrors.