A mail‐in and user facility for X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure: the CEI‐XANES laboratory X‐ray spectrometer at the University of Washington

There are more than 100 beamlines or endstations worldwide that frequently support X‐ray absorption fine‐structure (XAFS) measurements, thus providing critical enabling capability for research across numerous scientific disciplines. However, the absence of a supporting tier of more readily accessible, lower‐performing options has caused systemic inefficiencies, resulting in high oversubscription and the omission of many scientifically and socially valuable XAFS applications that are incompatible with the synchrotron facility access model. To this end, this work describes the design, performance and uses of the Clean Energy Institute X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure (CEI‐XANES) laboratory spectrometer and its use as both a user‐present and mail‐in facility. Such new additions to the XAFS infrastructure landscape raise important questions about the most productive interactions between synchrotron radiation and laboratory‐based capabilities; this can be discussed in the framework of five categories, only one of which is competitive. The categories include independent operation on independent problems, use dictated by convenience, pre‐synchrotron preparatory use of laboratory capability, post‐synchrotron follow‐up use of laboratory capability, and parallel use of both synchrotron radiation and laboratory systems.