A Modern Laboratory XAFS Cookbook

We have recently demonstrated a very favorable, inexpensive modernization of lab- based x-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) and high-resolution x-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) using only commercially-available optics and x-ray tube sources. Here, we survey several proven instrument designs that can be readily implemented in any laboratory setting to achieve synchrotron-quality XAFS and XES for many systems in the 5 keV to 10 keV energy range. These approaches are based on our immediate experience with the development of: (1) an inexpensive, low-powered monochromator capable of performing either XAFS or XES, (2) a mid-scale XAFS user facility having 10⁶/sec flux with sub-eV bandwidth on each of two independent beamlines, and (3) multiple XES spectrometers having outstanding performance that can complement synchrotron XAFS studies in battery and actinide research. (paper)