On 1 March 2024, the official opening ceremony was held for the POLYX beamline which is used to X-ray microimaging and X-ray microspectroscopy in the energy range 4-15 keV. POLYX enables imaging of 2D and 3D structure, elemental distribution, and chemical phases in investigated samples. The infrastructure was created in close cooperation with scientists from the Jagiellonian University, the AGH University of Science and Technology and the Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences.

The ceremony began with a welcome to the guests by Prof. Marek Stankiewicz,  Cooperation Representative of the SOLARIS National Synchrotron Radiation Centre.  He welcomed the guests: Prof. Piotr Kuśtrowski, Vice-Rector for Research of the Jagiellonian University, Prof. Zbigniew Postawa, Director of the Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics of the Jagiellonian University, Prof. Jakub Rysz, Vice - director of the Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Jagiellonian University, Prof. Jacek Kołodziej, Head of Department of Synchrotron Radiation Institute of Physics of the Jagiellonian University, prof. Zbigniew Sojka, Faculty of Chemistry of the Jagiellonian University, Prof. Bogdan Fornal of the IFJ PAN, Prof. Wojciech Kwiatek, IFJ PAN, Prof. Tomasz Ślęzak, Vice-Dean of the Faculty for Science and Cooperation of the AGH University of Science and Technology,  Prof.  Magdalena Szczerbowska-Borukowska, Head of the -  Department of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Faculty of Physics and Applied Computer Science, AGH University of Science and Technology and Joanna Czapla-Masztafiak, PhD, DSc, from IFJ PAN.
He thanked the entire SOLARIS Team for their involvement in the construction of the POLYX beamline, in particular: Prof. Paweł Korecki, Dr. Katarzyna Sowa, Dr. Tomasz Kołodziej and Dr. Paweł Wróbel. 

The next speaker was Prof. Paweł Korecki, who presented the history of the beamline, talked about the technical specification and application, as well as about the first successes of the team and the research carried out. The line is unique in that it is the first X-ray beam that comes out of a vacuum from the SOLARIS ring and can be used to conduct research in the air. I sent the first e-mail with the concept of the line in December 2016 and the final line was put into operation in September 2023 and we are still working on improving it - said prof. Paweł Korecki

During the event, the contribution of the work and commitment of the POLYX researchers was repeatedly highlighted. It is thanks to their determination and cooperation between specialists that a unique and compact line for imaging of 2D and 3D structure of objects; elemental distribution mapping; information about speciation and local atomic structure. The name POLYX originates from polycapillary X-ray optics that is used for X-ray focusing and from the possibility of using polychromatic X-rays to increase the X-ray flux from SOLARIS bending magnet in the hard X-ray energy range. It will make it possible to conduct research in biomedical sciences, material science, physics, chemistry, earth science & environmental sciences, cultural heritage. 

Guests attending the opening had the opportunity to see the experimental hall of the SOLARIS Centre and learn more about the research carried out at the synchrotron. Immediately afterwards, there was a symbolic act of opening – cutting the ribbon and taking commemorative photos.The opening date was no coincidence. It is today (1 March 2024) that the spring call for proposals starts and for the first time it is possible to apply for research time on the POLYX infrastructure.

Starting from right to left: prof. Bogdan Fornal, prof. Zbigniew Postawa, prof. Piotr Kuśtrowski, prof. Tomasz Ślęzak, prof. Marek Stankiewicz