Science Highlights

A Five-dimensional Visualization of the Pressure-induced Phase Transition in BiNiO₃ – Contacts: Yijin Liu, SSRL and Wenge Yang, Carnegie Institution of Washington / Center of High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research (China)

It is common knowledge that materials expand when heated. However, a chemical compound known as BiNiO₃ proves to be quite extraordinary in that it contracts with rising temperature. By mixing BiNiO₃ with “conventionally” expanding materials, it becomes possible to produce composite materials with zero or other desired thermal expansion values – a possibility with great potential for engineering and other applications. The same transition from a low-density to a high-density phase of BiNiO₃ observed for increasing temperatures can also be induced by applying high pressure.  Read more...

Putting the Spin on Graphite: Observing the Spins of Impurity Atoms Align – Contacts:  Samaresh Guchhait, University of Texas at Austin and Hendrik Ohldag, SSRL

Carbon-based materials are extremely lightweight and have thermal, mechanical and electrical properties that are of great interest for use in functional devices. Carbon materials can be manufactured in virtually any shape and even with dimensions on the micro- and nanoscales. Recent research is now aimed at exploiting the spin and magnetism of carbon-based materials for data storage devices – a field called spintronics.  Read more...

Hydrogen Adsorption Induces Interlayer Carbon Bond Formation in Supported Few-Layer Graphene – Contacts: Sarp Kaya and Frank Abild-Pedersen, SUNCAT

Graphite and diamond are two distinct forms of the same element, carbon. Nevertheless, their properties could not be any more different. For instance, diamond is extremely hard and can be used in cutting tools. Graphite, on the other hand, is soft and used in pencils. Graphite can be converted into diamond in a process that usually requires very high pressure. However, scientists have recently suggested an alternative route to obtain diamond-like structures from graphite – at least on the nanoscale.  Read more...

Updates

New Acknowledgement Statements; NIH Public Access Requirements

SSRL has recently updated the acknowledgement statements.  Please see “Referencing SSRL“ on our publications page.  The new statement reads:

Use of the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences under Contract No. DE-AC02-76SF00515.

For macromolecular crystallography, x-ray absorption spectroscopy (biochemistry, bioinorganic, biomedical, and biology) and biological small-angle x-ray scattering user publications, there is the additional funding agency requirements to include the following acknowledgment:

The SSRL Structural Molecular Biology Program is supported by the DOE Office of Biological and Environmental Research, and by the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of General Medical Sciences (including P41GM103393). The contents of this publication are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of NIGMS or NIH.

Furthermore, we need to remind Structural Molecular Biology Program users, as defined above, that compliance with the NIH Public Access Policy is required for publications that use the SSRL SMB facilities.  SMB Program Users are therefore requested to follow the information on the NIH Public Access website and submit papers to PubMed Central – following their instructions.

Getting through SLAC's Automated Gates

As a recap of the guidance regarding site access provided in our last newsletter, please be sure to do the following before arriving at SLAC:

1.  Complete all required training at least 48 hours before you arrive, and bring a hard copy of the training certificates. 

2.  Make sure to review the check-in procedures since they may have changed since your last visit.  For example, SLAC Traffic Safety Training (Course #154) is a recent requirement for gate access.

3.  If you have training but are coming to SSRL for reasons other than beam time, let URA know so we can make sure your badge is approved for entry.

4.  If you arrive without having done your training and run into problems, call URA (650-926-2079) so we can help.

5.  Reminder:  unless you are certain that your badge will get you through SLAC’s automated gates, stop first at the Security Office by the main gate.

As a final reminder, do not go over or under the new automated gates on your way to SSRL. If your badge does not work, use the intercom system to get further instructions. Also, do not immediately follow someone else through the pedestrian gate without swiping your badge as well - this constitutes tailgating.   All of these actions can result in potential access restrictions.

Temporary Food Service Available during Construction of New Cafeteria in Science and User Support Building

The SLAC Cafe, auditorium and visitor center have been closed and will be replaced with a new Science and User Support Building (SUSB). During this construction (2013-2015), temporary food service will be provided by the Cardinal Chef Mobile Gourmet food trucks, 11am - 2pm in front of SLAC Building 27. Lunch menus are posted online.  See map

In an effort to expand the food service available onsite SLAC has also launched a "Virtual Cafeteria" using services provided by the "Eat Club".  Eat Club is a local lunch delivery service. They collaborate with local restaurants to provide quality food fitting a variety of tastes at an affordable price. Orders are placed and paid for through their online service. The SLAC community can review the daily selections and place an online order in the morning using a personal credit card. Drop-off delivery will be made around noon each day to several locations around the site.  A location near the SSRL Experimental Hall is expected to be added soon.

Individual on-line registration takes just a few minutes. The url for sign-up for a free account and for pre-order is www.myeatclub.com/slac-cafeteria

Upcoming Events

SSRL School on Synchrotron X-ray Scattering Techniques in Materials and Environmental Sciences, June 3-5, 2014

The 7th SSRL SRXRS (Synchrotron Radiation-based X-ray Scattering techniques) School will provide a practical users' guide to planning and conducting scattering measurements at SSRL beam lines, and will cover important techniques including small angle scattering, thin-film scattering, powder diffraction, structure refinement and surface x-ray scattering. The school will address topics that are not commonly included in text books or class lectures, and typically obtained only through on-the-experiment training. There will be hands-on sessions at SSRL beam lines and session of diffraction theory and on data analysis. The school will also cover new instrumentation at SSRL scattering beam lines. This year's school, which will take place June 3-5, is organized by: Apurva Mehta, Stefan Mannsfeld, Chris Tassone, and Mike Toney.  See agenda

NUFO Annual Meeting at PNNL, April 30-May 2

The 2014 Annual Meeting of the National User Facility Organization (NUFO) will be hosted by EMSL April 30-May 2 at PNNL in Richland, Washington. The meeting theme, “Bridging Science Across National User Facilities,” will challenge attendees to look for new ways of collaborating across national user facilities to accelerate scientific advancement.  Keynote speakers, including DOE Office of Science Public Affairs Director Rick Borchelt, will address the benefits of team science as well as the potential challenges.  Facility Directors, User Executive Committee members, managers/administrators, and researchers will break out into groups to explore the potential opportunities and barriers in policies, operational requirements and user concerns for multidisciplinary joint science.  Read more

Call for User Science Demonstrations, Videos for NUFO Science Exhibition in DC

A National User Facility Organization (NUFO) User Science Exhibition will be held on Tuesday, June 10, 2014 in the foyer of the U.S. House of Representatives Rayburn Office Building. Discovery and energy are the themes for the NUFO exhibition. Users are encouraged to participate in this event, which will feature hands-on demonstrations, videos, and examples of user and industry research. Contact NUFO Vice Chair Stephen Wasserman (swasserman@lilly.com).  The Future of America is the Research of Today

Save the Date: High Power Laser Workshop, October 7-8, 2014

Save the Date: SSRL/LCLS Annual Users' Conference and Workshops, October 8-11, 2014

Save the Date: SAM Developers Forum Workshop, October 10, 2014 (a workshop on the Stanford Automounter for macromolecular crystallography held in conjunction with SSRL/LCLS Annual Users' Meeting)

User Research Administration

Proposal Deadlines

X-ray/VUV proposals can be submitted three times a year: June 1, and September 1 and December 1

Macromolecular Crystallography proposals can be submitted April 1 and July 1 and December 1.

Inform Us of Publications, Awards, Patents

SSRL provides technical tools for world-leading science at no charge for scientists who conduct non-proprietary research, with the understanding that significant results are to be publicly disseminated. Scientists must acknowledge use of the facility in presentations and publications and must inform us of all publications, theses, awards, patents and other forms of recognition resulting from research conducted fully or partially at SSRL. These metrics of scientific achievements and productivity are extremely important to the facility, and to our funding agencies

Reminder:  Please also contact us as research results are about to be published so that we can work with you to more broadly communicate your research.

The Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL) is a third-generation light source producing extremely bright x-rays for basic and applied research.  SSRL attracts and supports scientists from around the world who use its state-of-the-art capabilities to make discoveries that benefit society. SSRL, a U.S. DOE Office of Science national user facility, is a Directorate of SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, operated by Stanford University for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science.  The SSRL Structural Molecular Biology Program is supported by the DOE Office of Biological and Environmental Research, and by the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of General Medical Sciences. For more information about SSRL science, operations and schedules, visit http://www-ssrl.slac.stanford.edu.

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Questions? Comments? Contact Lisa Dunn