Integration of a tape drive sample delivery system at the European XFEL

High-throughput and reliable sample delivery plays a key role in high-energy laser experiments using low cross-section techniques such as X-ray Thomson scattering (XRTS), which require, due to the destructive laser-sample interaction, a large number of reproducible samples to ensure statistical accuracy. The tape drive—a conveyor-based system capable of continuously delivering samples at high speed—has been applied in structural biology and high-intensity laser experiments. In this contribution, we describe the integration of the tape drive into the European XFEL control system, enabling a level of sample delivery throughput that would not be achievable with alternative methods. The STFC-developed tape drive has been fully integrated into the facility’s control infrastructure and is now used to perform highly accurate XRTS measurements. We discuss how this integration improves efficiency by enabling precise synchronization and minimizing downtime.