High/low temperature setups for submillimetric samples under various extreme conditions at the AILES beamline

Infrared and terahertz spectroscopy performed at synchrotron facilities offers unique opportunities for probing matter under extreme and well controlled conditions. At the AILES beamline of Synchrotron SOLEIL, two complementary experimental setups have recently been developed to enable spectroscopy of submillimetric samples across a broad range of temperatures and pressures. These platforms operate from 10 K to 600 K and from vacuum up to 100 GPa, while accommodating a variety of sample environments, including liquid cells, diamond anvil cells and uniaxial strain devices. Combined with the high brilliance and stability of synchrotron radiation and advanced detection schemes, these setups are particularly suited for in situ and operando investigations, allowing real-time monitoring of structural changes, phase transitions and reaction dynamics under external stimuli. Their performance is illustrated through far-infrared measurements of water and ice over different thermodynamic states, demonstrating sensitivity to structural reorganizations and hydrogen-bond dynamics. These developments significantly expand the experimental capabilities of the AILES beamline and provide versatile tools for a wide user community, opening new perspectives for studies of functional materials, molecular systems and emerging phenomena under extreme conditions.