ALSNews is a biweekly electronic newsletter to keep users and other interested parties informed about developments at the Advanced Light Source, a national user facility located at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California. To be placed on the mailing list, send your name and complete internet address to ALSNews@lbl.gov. We welcome suggestions for topics and content.

Previous Issues are available.


ALSNews           Vol. 101           April 29, 1998

Table of Contents


    1. INFRARED BRANCHLINE COMMISSIONED, ANOTHER ON THE WAY
    2. INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATOR BEAM TIME ALLOCATIONS COMPLETE
    3. ALS HOSTS GROUPS FOR CAL DAY, DAUGHTERS & SONS TO WORK DAY
    4. CALL FOR INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATOR PROPOSALS - DUE JUNE 1
    5. OPERATIONS UPDATE

1. INFRARED BRANCHLINE COMMISSIONED, ANOTHER ON THE WAY
(contact: mcmartin@lbl.gov)

The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) beamline (Beamline 1.4) is now coming into its own. After some initial difficulties, the infrared spectromicroscopy branchline (1.4.3) is fully commissioned and taking data for users, and the spectroscopy branchline (1.4.2) is expected to begin taking user data immediately after the current shutdown. Test spectra taken in the past month have demonstrated that the beamline is functioning well, with recent measurements indicating a 5-ns time resolution for spectroscopy and a 10-micron spot size for spectromicroscopy.

The infrared beamline received its first light on August 26, 1997. Test spectra for Branchline 1.4.3 were successfully taken in October, but these indicated that performance was affected by vibrations in the beamline's first mirrors. The major source of the vibration proved to be the water cooling for the storage ring's rf system. Rectifying the problem involved installing a closed-cycle chiller for cooling the first mirror, bolting the mirror tank to the subfloor for a more rigid attachment, and modifying the rf water system's pump rotors. The alterations were successful, and the branchline came back on line in February. User operations began in the second half of March. Branchline 1.4.2 is also progressing apace, having seen first light on March 14. Its commissioning continues during the shutdown, and user operations are due to begin with the restoration of beam in June. Also during the shutdown, optics will be added to the new UV photoluminescence branchline (Branchline 1.4.1). First light for that branchline is anticipated in June as well.

Funding for Beamline 1.4: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences.

2. INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATOR BEAM TIME ALLOCATIONS COMPLETE
(contact: g_krebs@lbl.gov)

The allocation process for independent-investigator beam time during June-September 1998 is complete. A total of 639 shifts, equal to 60% of all time requested in the proposals, were allocated. Competition for beam time on insertion-device beamlines was especially keen -- for these beamlines, the ALS was able to grant only 30% of the beam time requested.

Beam-time requests for independent investigator experiments are reviewed twice each year. A Program Study Panel (PSP) evaluates each proposal, providing the basis for granting beam time. The PSP is made up of five scientists from a variety of synchrotron science disciplines. The intention is to start rotating the PSP membership so that many people will get an opportunity to perform this demanding yet important chore. The ALS now looks to its Users' Executive Committee for nominations for PSP members. (There is a separate PSP for the macromolecular crystallography facility at Beamline 5.0.) Once PSP evaluations are complete, the User Services Group Leader and Scientific Program Head meet with the various beamline scientists and Participating Research Team spokespersons individually for final allocation of beam time.

Independent investigator proposals are now being accepted for October 1998 - March 1999. Please see item #4 below for more information on making a new proposal or renewing a previous proposal.

3. ALS HOSTS GROUPS FOR CAL DAY, DAUGHTERS & SONS TO WORK DAY

The ALS once again opened its doors to visitors taking part in the Cal Day Open House on April 18 at the University of California, Berkeley. Small but enthusiastic groups of visitors ventured up the hill from campus to get an up-close look at the ALS. After an introductory talk by staff from the ALS and the Center for X-Ray Optics, visitors toured the experiment floor, visiting beamlines and talking with scientists about their research.

On Daughters and Sons to Work Day, April 23, more than 200 children of Berkeley Lab employees came to see their parents' workplaces and to take part in workshops around the Lab. As part of this special day, the ALS sponsored workshops in the morning and afternoon to introduce young minds to the fun and intrigue of science at the ALS. The workshops consisted of a brief introduction to the ALS and related hands-on activities, followed by a visit with scientists and engineers who took the time to discuss their work at the ALS and to answer the eager questions of participants.

Many thanks to all the ALS employees and users who encouraged these budding scientists.

4. CALL FOR INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATOR PROPOSALS - DUE JUNE 1

The ALS is now accepting proposals from scientists who wish to conduct research at the facility as independent investigators between October 1998 and March 1999 inclusive. The deadline for proposals is June 1, 1998. There will be no automatic rollover of proposals from the previous proposal cycle (June-September 1998). Scientists wishing to renew a previous proposal should notify the ALS User Administrator, Ruth Pepe (contact information below), before the June 1 deadline.

The proposal form for independent investigators is available in Portable Document Format (PDF) on the Web. Information on the proposal process is available at the same location. Data sheets on beamlines at the ALS (available in Portable Document Format) provide information that may be useful to prospective ALS users.

To request a proposal form by mail, contact:
Ruth Pepe, ALS User Administrator
Tel: (510) 486-5268
Fax: (510) 486-4773
Email: alsuser@lbl.gov

For information on beamlines available to independent investigators, contact:
Gary Krebs, ALS User Services Group Leader
Tel: (510) 486-7727
Fax: (510) 486-4102
Email: g_krebs@lbl.gov

5. OPERATIONS UPDATE
(contact: rmmiller@lbl.gov)

The ALS is currently in a planned shutdown period for maintenance and installations. (See ALSNews Vol. 99 for details of shutdown activities.) Shutdown scheduling meetings will be held on Thursdays at 1:00 in the Building 6 conference room. Weekly operations scheduling meetings, held on Fridays at 3:30 p.m. in the Building 6 conference room, will resume on May 29. User operations are scheduled to resume June 3.

Long-term and weekly operations schedules are available on the Web (http://www-als.lbl.gov/als/als_ops/schedules/). The Accelerator Status Hotline at (510) 486-6766 (ext. 6766 from Lab phones) features a recorded message giving up-to-date information on the operational status of the accelerator.