Hi Igor, (and sorry for the double posting, but I thought some people on the Ifeffit list might be interested and have something to say too). I (well, GSECARS) have a Linkam TS-1500 heating stage, which can go to 1500C. It works well. We use it in our x-ray microprobe, where we're usually very concerned with contaminating signals from metals, so we run it open to air without any cover plates on it. It can easily get to 800C with this configuration (that is, no vacuum, a lot less insulation than intended), but we tend to consume the heating elements a little faster than we'd like. In fact, we just ordered some replacements. Julie (well, PNCCAT) has the Linkam THMS-600 (I think that's the model -- it goes down to LN2 temperature, and up to ~600C). The APS equipment pool also has one of these. It also works well, and really does get down to -196C. I does tend to consume LN2 and the connecting line between the stage and dewar is a little short. I think Julie had Linkam modify the basic design to open the back hole enough to allow transmission signal be measured while the stage was at 45degrees to the beam, and then also made some in-house modifications of her own (to improve the low temperature insulation, mostly). The heating element on hers also broke this fall, but she was able to repair it. Anyway, these are definitely reasonable choices, and being commercial products, probably cheaper, safer, and more reliable than anything you can build at home. I think Oxford Danfysik has (or used to have, anyway) a similar microscope heating/cooling stage that could be adapted for synchrotron work, but don't recall the details. --Matt On 12/15/06, Igor Levin wrote:

Hi,

We are considering to purchase a variable-temperature stage for the XAS work. Linkam's THMS600 thermal stage came up as an option. Does anybody have an experience with this stage? What are the alternatives?

Thanks,

Igor Levin

Materials Research Scientist Ceramics Division National Institute of Standards and Technology Gaithersburg MD 20899

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