MX End Station Description

The MX end station will be a modern, fully automated experimental platform designed for X-ray diffraction measurements on crystals of proteins, nucleic acids, and small molecules. The X-ray source will be a three-pole wiggler, providing beam energies in the range of 4–22 keV. Users will be able to continuously tune the wavelength and apply beam attenuation when needed.

The station will be equipped with:

• an ultra-fast and high-precision microdiffractometer,
• a sample-changing robot with a cryogenic dewar capable of holding at least 400 samples,
• a high-end hybrid photon-counting detector with a resolution of 9 megapixels,
• a fluorescence detector for locating heavy atoms.

Figure 1. Schematic representation of planned endstation elements.

In addition to routine cryogenic measurements, the station will support:

• room-temperature data collection with manual sample mounting directly on the diffractometer,
• high-pressure experiments using diamond anvil cells (DACs),
• helical data collection,
• raster scanning to identify the most diffracting regions of the crystal.

The beamline will be operated using MXCuBE software, enabling full remote control and experiment planning. Data will be automatically processed upon completion of diffraction experiments, allowing rapid assessment of data quality and completeness. The system will be integrated with ISPyB, facilitating sample tracking, experiment management, and data access in line with European synchrotron standards.