The Instrument

Based on it’s expertise gained in over 30 years of service to the international scientific community RI is capable of designing, producing, installing and commissioning unique instruments needed to drive discovery. Here we present the concept for the 1st commercial MeV-UED instrument. This instrument is designed with an emphasis on robustness and usability. It uses building blocks proven in world-leading institutions. Yet it is open to customization in many aspects like sample environment (solid / liquid / gas), detectors (EMCCD, hybrid pixel) and diagnostics.

Modern nano and quantum materials require information about atoms and their dynamics on the atomic scale in space (~Å) and time (~100 fs). This demands ultra-fast time resolved experiments. RI offers a Megaelectron Volt Ultra-fast Electron Diffraction (MeV-UED) instrument as a commercial product. This instrument provides a high-brightness electron beam (e = 0.5 mm ⋅ mrad), sample environment, a fs-laser system (Dt = ca. 50 fs) with pump (IR) and probe (UV) branches and detectors. Talk to us to configure the instrument to your requirements

The concept

RI-Bornite

Concept design of the RI-Bornite MeV-UED system showing the 2.5 cell RF-photogun together with the klystron and modulator on the left, the fs-laser system in the back and the sample chamber in the front. The two detectors are shown on the right and electronics racks for vacuum, diagnostics, sample motion and the control system in the back right.

Configuration example

Table showing the MEV UED casic configuration

Contact our team!

Labeled picture of the Basic concept of the MeV UED system, showing details like laser, klystron, granite table, probe station

The urgent need?

Quantitative information on nano, energy, and quantum materials at the atomic scale in space and time. A complement or alternative to XFELs, which are too expensive and difficult to access.

Our Approach!

Electron diffraction using MeV beams. RI offers MeV Ultrafast Electron Diffraction as a commercial instrument. Laser pump, electron probe, RF accelerators at approximately 1–5 MeV.

Your Benefit!

Atomic resolution (MeV → access to high Bragg peaks). Ultrafast time scales (<100 fs). Broad sample compatibility: solids (including cryo), liquids, and gases. Academic expertise bundled into a single commercial turn‑key instrument.

Cost/Competition?

Goal: “Half the cost of a synchrotron beamline” — approximately 5 M€. Requires radiation shielding, AC, and clean‑lab space.
XFEL: few B€.
TEM: ns resolution, ultrathin samples only.
Home‑built systems: too complex.