Verified high and ultra-high vacuum CM-AMB operation

Customer insights from ESRF and BYU

The demand for high-speed rotor systems capable of reliable operation in high vacuum (HV) and even ultra-high vacuum (UHV) environments is increasing steadily – particularly in advanced scientific applications such as beamline instrumentation and particle physics. Two recent customer applications demonstrate the suitability and proven performance of our CM-AMB magnetic bearing chopper drive systems under such challenging vacuum conditions.

Crossing into UHV at ESRF’s ID29 Beamline

At the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), our chopper system is in use at the ID29 beamline under the direction of Dr. Daniele de Sanctis. The system is deployed for X-ray time-resolved macromolecular crystallography experiments, which demand not only high rotational speed but also reliable operation in vacuum conditions.

As Dr. de Sanctis reports: “We have operated the Celeroton CM-AMB chopper system at the ID29 Beamline at ESRF routinely at 10⁻⁷ mbar, reaching as low as 5 × 10⁻⁸ mbar.” These results clearly underline the vacuum capability of our magnetically levitated drive system. Regular operation at 10⁻⁷ mbar, and a verified pressure level as low as 5 × 10⁻⁸ mbar, confirm suitability for applications under UHV requirements. Further insights on this application can be found in our dedicated blog article.

Reliable High-Speed Operation in HV at BYU

A second example highlighting the system’s vacuum capability comes from a collaboration with Brigham Young University (BYU), where a custom high-speed rotor was developed for microparticle impact studies. In this setup, a 128 mm diameter four-wing rotor is accelerated to high tip speeds under vacuum conditions.

Initial in-house tests at Celeroton were performed at 6 × 10⁻⁵ Torr, while BYU successfully operated the CM-AMB system at pressures as low as 1.33 × 10⁻⁷ mbar (equivalent to 10⁻⁷ Torr) – providing further evidence for the robustness of the technology in demanding vacuum environments. Details on the setup and experimental validation are available in the publication in Review of Scientific Instruments.

Conclusion

These two real-world applications confirm the vacuum readiness of Celeroton’s chopper drive systems CM-AMB for HV and UHV use cases. Whether in synchrotron facilities or experimental particle physics, the systems deliver stable performance down to 5 × 10⁻⁸ mbar, while maintaining the high dynamic requirements typical for beam and particle manipulation.

For more information on our vacuum-capable drive systems and possible customizations for your application, please feel free to contact us via moc.notorelec@ofni or +41 44 250 52 20.