A new user resource for the characterization of complex biological and environmental systems

ABEX, located at Berkeley Lab's Advanced Light Source, is a DOE OBER funded User Facility for X-ray spectroscopic characterization of complex biological and environmental systems using these tools:

• Soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy
• X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) spectroscopy

ABEX has a instrument development program aimed at providing:

• New X-ray Endstations
• Novel high resolution X-ray fluorescence detectors
• New and efficient sample handing techniques for soft x-ray spectroscopy of sensitive biological materials

ABEX's spectroscopy support laboratory is equipped with the following:

• UV-visible spectroscopy
• Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy
• Infrared spectroscopy
• Resonance Raman spectroscopy
• Wet biochemistry laboratory, including an anaerobic glove box
• Instrumentation development laboratory

The long-range goals of ABEX are to provide facilities to understand fundamental processes in biological and environmental biochemistry related to DOE energy-related challenges, to develop soft x-ray spectroscopy techniques, and to cultivate a knowledgeable community of users and programs.