ROBL – The Rossendorf Beamline at ESRF

Research at ROBL

The Rossendorf Beamline is a synchrotron X-ray beamline at the ESRF (European Synchrotron Research Facility) in Grenoble (France), which is dedicated to actinide sciences.  In this context, a variety of high-performance X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction methods, e.g. EXAFS (extended X-ray absorption fine structure), HERFD-XANES (high energy resolution fluorescence detection X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy, RIXS and XES) and X-ray diffraction (powder diffraction, single crystal and surface diffraction), are used to determine the electronic, molecular and long-range structure of materials. Our research provides detailed insights into the structural and electronic properties of actinide and lanthanide-containing materials across various scientific disciplines, including physics, chemistry, environmental science, and geoscience. We study fundamental electron interactions, and bonding properties, probing the local structures and oxidation states of complex systems. Data analysis is performed with the help of electronic structure calculations.

ROBL set-up for users

The HZDR scientists at ROBL are responsible for the operation of four experimental stations (XAFS, XES, XRD-1, XRD-2). Beamtime is being offered to in-house and external users upon the scientific merit of the submitted proposal, which is evaluated by review panels of HZDR or ESRF.

Operators and funding

As a collaborating research group (CRG) beamline BM-20 ROBL is located at the ESRF in Grenoble, France. It has been operated by the HZDR since 1998 and receives additional support from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the European Council.