Previous Editions__________________________________________________________________________SSRL Headlines Vol. 12, No. 2 - August 2011__________________________________________________________________________
Contents of this Issue:
SSRL is working to make this feedback loop a smooth process. In the development of high-performance organic photovoltaic and electronic materials, for example, a close collaboration of SSRL staff and leaders in the research community has led to an improved understanding of the structure–function relationship and accelerated the development of new materials. At SSRL, we are constantly trying to improve all aspects of our operation, including outreach, training, instrument development, user support, automation, and data analysis, to optimize the process for the user community. Please let us know
about the bottlenecks in your research that SSRL could help relieve, and your expertise that might be useful to others in your research community. You can either share this information with the beam line scientist you work with most closely or you can
send me an e-mail directly.
Along these same lines, a meeting to coordinate industrial research conducted at Department of Energy Basic Energy Sciences-funded synchrotron and neutron facilities was held at SSRL on July 25-26. Attended by representatives from all the BES synchrotron facilities and the Spallation Neutron Source, the meeting launched an effort to begin addressing one of the key recommendations from the recent Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee report, Science for Energy Technology – Strengthening the Link between Basic Research and Industry, which states:
BES-supported user facilities should seek to increase the level of industrial participation and use by considering refinements to its access policies, proposal selection criteria, and time allocations to more fully engage industry-based clean energy research; investigating how its existing and proposed beamlines and instrumentation could be adapted to the priority research directions and needs of industry outlined here; and engaging its beamline scientists and support staff to provide greater assistance to industrial users solving critical challenges in development and deployment of clean energy technologies.
The group reviewed the current industrial research at each facility, including industrial user statistics, instruments and facilities that are used most by industrial users, industrial research highlights, user portals, and Department of Energy and facility-specific policies affecting industrial users. In addition, the group shared their experiences on automation, data analysis, rapid access, remote-access, and standardization, and agreed to coordinate an initial set of instruments for industrial research and to organize targeted workshops for industrial applications. These workshops will engage facility staff, researchers from BES research programs within laboratories, as well as industrial researchers, research managers, and academic researchers.
These initiatives will benefit not only industrial researchers, but also the SSRL user community as a whole. In addition, we are working to keep SPEAR3 performance at the highest and most reliable levels possible. In the user run that ended July 25, SSRL's storage ring delivered photons to users for 4,786 hours with only 72 hours of unscheduled downtime, making for an availability of 98.5%. As I mentioned in my
June column, the storage ring has also begun operating at 350 mA. Top-off injections now occur every 5 minutes, maintaining the stored current constant to better than 1%. This was the first full run with frequent top-off injection and the injector performed better than expected. SPEAR3 performance metrics
for both the storage ring and the injector are summarized in the table
below.
—Chi-Chang Kao
One fungus, Podospora anserina, naturally contains one of two nearly identical prion proteins, HET-s and HET-S. If one fungal colony begins to merge with a genetically distinct "invader" fungal species, HET-s and HET-S interact in such a way that they stop cell growth and lead to cell death, preserving the distinct genetic attributes of the two species. In a recent study published in the journal Molecular Cell, a team led by Prof. S. Choe and R. Riek at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies sought to better understand which section of the proteins is involved in prion formation and propagation. Through x-ray structural analysis conducted at Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource Beam Line 7-1 and the Advanced Light Source as well as nuclear magnetic resonance studies, the team discovered that prion regulation is coded in the stability of the beginning of the protein (its "N-terminal domain") rather than in its structure, as was previously thought. The work also suggests that the generation of cell toxicity may be based on an activation of the N-terminal domain triggered by a mis-folding of the "prion forming domain" located at the end of the protein ("C-terminal"). This work offers one of the first in-depth models of the mechanism for prion-inhibition and activation of toxicity.
To learn more about this research see the
full
scientific highlight.
In a recent study undertaken at Brookhaven National Laboratory's National Synchrotron Light Source and published in
Physical Review Letters, Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource scientists Jun-Sik Lee and Chi-Chang Kao, working with colleagues at NSLS, University of Illinois, University of Rutgers, and Pohang University of Science and Technology, took a closer look at this thin film.
The study revealed the spin and orbital orders of electrons in the sample as well as information about their ground states. These showed why the material's magnetic ground state sometimes follows one pattern (designated "A-type") and sometimes follows another (designated "CE-type"). What's more, the
study revealied that these two patterns can co-exist within a single sample, or the entire sample can switch between the two patterns depending on the temperature and the sample’s exact chemical composition. This ability to very easily switch between the two patterns may be quite useful for the design of future spintronic devices like next-generation solid state computer hard drives and memory, offering a rich opportunity for future investigations.
To learn more about this research see the full
scientific highlight.
To address this challenge, a team of researchers from University of Colorado–Boulder's Department of Geological Sciences and the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource recently used SSRL Beam Line 2-3 to investigate the iron species in a water-rock reaction system at different time points. The team developed an integrated approach to data collection and processing that allowed them to identify and map unique iron-bearing components within a sample system, revealing the types of iron as well as their locations and distribution. Techniques commonly applied to soft x-ray analyses were used and processing the data immediately after collection enabled the researchers to specifically target subsequent analyses used to specifically identify the iron species. The combination of these techniques resulted in a novel method that identifies and distinguishes the unique species of any redox active element that can be investigated using hard x-rays.
In their study, the team investigated the behavior of iron in two common geological and aquifer materials—basalt and Fe(III) oxides—during reaction with anoxic seawater for both short (48 hours) and long (~1 year) reaction times. At both time points they were able to identify and map the starting materials. They found that the Fe(III) oxides did not react, which was contrary to what was expected in reducing conditions. After ~1 year, they detected and identified a new iron species that was not present in the starting materials and that indicated that basalt dissolution had occurred. The widespread distribution of these secondary phases throughout the sample area was also discovered. This work provides new insights into iron reactivity in reducing conditions, and offers a new technique for investigating the species and distribution of any element that can cycle dynamically in the natural environment.
This work was published in Environmental Science & Technology.
To learn more about this research see the full
scientific highlight.
Plan to participate in the annual
SSRL/LCLS Users' Meeting and Workshops, October 22-26, to learn about and share groundbreaking research results
as well as new opportunities that push our understanding and promote key innovations in energy and materials, biology, chemistry, catalysis, and environmental science.
Keynote and award talks include:
TIME RESOLVED X-RAY SCIENCE AT HIGH REPETITION RATE WORKSHOP. In conjunction with the
2011 SSRL/LCLS Users' Meeting, SSRL and the
Advanced Photon Source (APS) will jointly host a two-day workshop, October 22-23, focused on
opportunities with short-pulse, high-repetition rate x-ray beams. The workshop will feature international
speakers and panel experts presenting the scientific basis, preliminary results, and future
potential of high rep-rate picosecond x-ray beams at the APS and SPEAR3 storage rings. The
workshop will broadly focus on topics in materials science, chemistry, and atomic physics.
The workshop agenda will also include presentations on accelerator operational modes, precision
timing issues, detector challenges, and the relation of storage ring experiments with pump-probe
experiments at the Linac Coherent Light Source. Dedicated time will be available for open discussions, a panel review
section, and breakout sessions for report preparation. A primary goal of the workshop is to
expand the user community for short-pulse, high repetition rate science at SPEAR3 and APS.
For more information, contact the organizers:
Aaron Lindenberg,
Apurva Mehta, and
Jeff Corbett from SLAC
and Eric Dufresne,
David Keavney, and
Linda Young from ANL.
DE-MYSTIFYING THE LIGHT SOURCE EXPERIENCE WORKSHOP. A special workshop,
De-Mystifying the Lightsource Experience, will be held on Sunday, October 23 to
engage new scientists or provide a foundation for existing users to consider
adding new techniques to their research toolkit. This workshop will discuss
several techniques (EXAFS; scattering; protein crystallography; imaging;
lenseless coherent imaging; RIXS, XES, PES; time resolution/low alpha mode;
ultrafast and ultrashort capabilities); how experiments are performed;
applications and examples of research experiments; why one might use the technique
and what makes it novel and exciting. Contact
Sarah Hayes or Sam Webb to learn more about reduced student registration for this special workshop.
CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS. Several concurrent workshops are planned for
Tuesday, October 25:
POSTER SESSION.. Students are encouraged to present posters at the poster
session on Monday, October 24. We will hold a "Poster Slam" at the conclusion of the
plenary session, just before the poster session begins, so that
students can make a quick (1 minute) pitch for their poster. In addition to the
opportunity to discuss their research projects, reduced registration fees, and
poster prizes, students presenting posters get for free dinner on October 24
(indicate poster competition when completing the online registration). Winners
of the Outstanding Student Poster Competition will also be asked to give a 5-minute
presentation at the conclusion of the Users' Meeting on
October 26. Send poster abstracts to
Cathy Knotts, Natalya Brown, or
Jackie Kerlegan before October 8.
HELP US PUBLICIZE. We would appreciate your help in advertising the SSRL/LCLS Users'
Meeting and Workshops by alerting your colleagues and adding this meeting to
any calendar of upcoming events within your office. We look forward to an
interesting meeting, and we hope that you will be able to participate!
RESERVE LODGING AT STANFORD GUEST HOUSE. Users who need local accommodations are encouraged
to make reservations at the
Stanford Guest House, which features cable TV and DVD; high-speed, in-room
internet access; complimentary coffee/tea; free parking; free fitness center; laundry facilities;
and a 24-hour gift shop. Specify SSRL/LCLS/SLAC to take advantage of discounted rates.
CALL FOR SSRL X-RAY/VUV BEAM TIME REQUESTS - DUE SEPTEMBER 1.
Proposal spokespersons or their authorized lead contacts on active proposals can
submit new X-ray/VUV beam time requests by September 1 for the first SSRL scheduling period (mid November 2011 through mid February 2012). New proposals
submitted June 1 are also eligible to submit requests by this date.
Request beam time via the user portal. (Request a password if you have not already requested
one or cannot remember your URA password; note this is different from your SSRL or SLAC password.)
CALL FOR NEW SSRL X-RAY/VUV PROPOSALS: DUE SEPTEMBER 1, DECEMBER 1, OR JUNE 1.
New X-ray/VUV proposals can be submitted 3 times a year: September 1, December
1, June 1. Proposals
submitted by September 1 will be peer reviewed, rated and eligible for
beam time beginning in February 2012.
SPEAR UPDATE AND SCHEDULE. 2010-11 SPEAR user operations ended on July
25, and several maintenance, upgrade, and construction projects are underway
over the summer shutdown. Operations will resume again in mid November 2011; see
the
2011-2012 SPEAR schedule.
NOMINATE REPRESENTATIVES TO THE UEC. We welcome your help to identify
candidates for the SSRL Users' Executive Committee (UEC). Ballots will be compiled in
September for the election to be held at the annual Users' Meeting October
22-26, 2011. Appointments to the SSRL UEC generally involve a 3-year
commitment. Learn more on the
Users' Meeting website.
What makes certain proposals stand out from the crowd in the review process? The
Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource Proposal Review Panel says "A good proposal answers all the 'W'-questions: WHO is going to do WHAT, WHERE (beam line), WHEN (preferred time period), WHY, and HOW."
Beam time at SSRL is made available to users from around the world
through proposals submitted via the online user portal three times annually,
prior to each SSRL run cycle. Find this year's deadlines on the
SSRL webpage.
User proposals are handled in a two-step process: The Proposal Review Panel (PRP) peer reviews and scores each proposal using a five-point scale. Proposal spokespersons are eligible to
request beam time in each of the next six scheduling periods (2 years). Beam time requests are reviewed, a schedule for each beam line is centrally prepared by User Research Administration, and beam time is allocated in collaboration with the beam line scientists.
Here are some tips to answer the "W" questions and get your proposal off to a great start in the review process:
Nitrogen Charges Up Graphene
SLAC Beam Used to Develop New Melanoma Drug
__________________________________________________________________________
SSRL Headlines is published electronically monthly to inform SSRL users,
sponsors and other interested people about happenings at SSRL. SSRL is a
national synchrotron user facility operated for the U.S.
Department of Energy Office of Basic Energy Sciences by Stanford
University. Additional support for
the structural biology program is provided by the DOE
Office of Biological and Environmental Research, the NIH
National Center for Research Resources and the NIH National Institute of General Medical
Sciences. Additional information about
SSRL and its operation and schedules is available from the SSRL website.
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