APS User News-at-a-Glance
Issue 6; March 22, 2001

Contents:

1.

Moncton to Lead Argonne's Fourth-Generation Sources Initiative

April Shutdown Activities

Web-based Graphics Gallery: Resource for Users

New User Support Facility Opens

One Month Left to Submit User Activity Reports

1.

Moncton to Lead Argonne's Fourth-Generation Sources Initiative
(Contact: rt@aps.anl.gov)

In a memo last Friday to APS employees and the user community, David Moncton announced that he has accepted a position at Argonne National Laboratory as Senior Scientist and Advisor to the Laboratory Director. In this position, he will lead Argonne's Fourth-Generation Source initiative, advise the Laboratory Director on APS issues, and resume his x-ray research career. Consequently, he will be stepping aside as Associate Laboratory Director for the APS on May 1, 2001, to undertake these new responsibilities. Moncton commented that he considers his 14 years as leader of the APS to have been an "extraordinary privilege" and indicated that he has great confidence that the new leadership to be identified for the APS will be "capable of continuing, and even accelerating, the pace of scientific output from this magnificent facility."

In an accompanying memo, Hermann Grunder, Argonne National Laboratory Director, offered high praise for Moncton's accomplishments at both the APS and the Spallation Neutron Source, and indicated that it is because of "the importance of future scientific breakthroughs" and "milestones toward developing the facility that will eventually go beyond the APS" that he asked Moncton to assume responsibility for Argonne's Fourth-Generation Initiative.

The full text of both memos is located at http://www.aps.anl.gov/apsnews/.

April Shutdown Activities
(contact: avr@aps.anl.gov)

In addition to the numerous routine maintenance activities that occur during APS shutdown periods, an extensive list of major systems modifications and new installations will continue. Some of these are described below.

The rf BPM system timing upgrades will continue, as will the electronics modifications to the x-ray BPMs. Both of these are part of the beam stability initiative, and when completed, will improve orbit control capabilities and remove the limitation on filling patterns of having to include a group of six consecutive bunches to provide BPM timing signals. In the effort to improve the response of the x-ray BPMs by eliminating the radiation from stray sources, the orbit distortion of the lattice (the "Decker distortion") will be modified in three more sectors (sectors 6-8), which will then make a total of 11 modified sectors.

The installation of the ID front end in sector 22 (SER-CAT) will be completed so the beamline can begin commissioning during the following operating period.

Installation will begin on the ID front-end in sector16 (HP-CAT) and will be completed during the next shutdown, scheduled to begin July 9, 2001.

Web-based Graphics Gallery: Resource for Users
(Contact: fenner@aps.anl.gov)

Below the surface of the APS Web site (actually, four pages down) is a resource for anyone in need of graphics and photos related to the APS and its research programs. The APS Graphics Gallery (http://www.aps.anl.gov/ald/grafgal2/) can be accessed directly with this link or from the User Information Page (http://www.aps.anl.gov/ui) under Technical Publications and Graphics.

This gallery offers both digital files (for PowerPoint users) and overhead transparencies of a wide range of photos and graphics, including the APS logo. Digital files are downloaded directly from the Web site by following the detailed instructions given there. Each file is available in two sizes: low resolution (for use if a presentation is graphics intensive) and higher resolution (for better prints). Both sizes, however, look fine on screen. Transparencies are ordered by checking the appropriate box (print and/or transparency) for each graphic, then filling in address information fields before clicking the "Send Order" button. Orders are normally mailed within one working day of receipt.

The site also provides information on ordering APS publications and videos. Suggestions for additions or improvements to the APS Graphics Gallery may be sent to fenner@aps.anl.gov.

4.

New User Support Facility Opens
(Contact: strasser@aps.anl.gov)

The new APS User Support Facility, which is located in 431Z (a newly constructed pentagon immediately adjacent to Pentagon A of Lab/Office Module 431 on the northeast side of the experiment hall) is now the official home to the APS Experiment Floor Operations and Health Physics groups, as well as the APS Radiation Physicist, P. K. Job, and the APS User Safety Coordinator, Bruce Glagola. This facility also contains a new radioactive materials receiving area. Users are invited to stop by at any time to see the new facility.

5.

One Month Left to Submit User Activity Reports
(Contact: fenner@aps.anl.gov)

Are you interested in communicating your research results quickly to the scientific community and funding agencies? If so, the APS Activity Report gives you that chance. This critical document not only conveys the outstanding science being produced by APS users to the international synchrotron x-ray community, the federal government, other funding agencies, and the public, but also fulfills our annual obligation to keep the Department of Energy-Basic Energy Sciences apprised of the return on taxpayer investment in the APS.

Detailed instructions can be found on the APS Activity Reports website (http://www.aps.anl.gov/ald/test/webar/webars.html). (The URL published in previous issues of User News will also direct users to this site.) This new web site also contains a link to Web postings and order information for the first Advanced Photon Source User Activity Report (ANL-00/5, January 2001), as well as a searchable database for submissions already posted for the next Activity Report. The submission deadline for this year's report is April 20, 2001.

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