Initiation of Independent Investigator Programs by CATs

10/22/96


Policy

A CAT is expected to begin allocating beam time in a given experimental station to Independent Investigators (IIs) no later than one year after the CAT Director designates that station as operational. The "operational" designation indicates the following: (a) the APS has completed the shielding and PSS validation of that station, (b) the CAT has completed the installation and checkout of the instruments specified for that station in the Final Design Report, and (c) the capability of the station for performing scientific experiments has been adequately demonstrated. The CAT will develop a timeline for designation of its stations as operational and will present this plan to the APS Program Evaluation Board (PEB).

A CAT may, at its discretion, begin allocating beam time to IIs after a shorter interval.

The "Approval to Operate" date for a given beamline is defined as the date of the first designation of an operational station on that beamline.

Procedure

  1. As part of the PEB Progress Review, each CAT that has reached the appropriate stage of sector development presents a plan, based on the above criteria, for designating its stations as operational.
  2. When the CAT designates a given experimental station as operational in accordance with the plan it has presented to the PEB, it notifies the APS.
  3. The CAT submits its II access plan to the APS for review within three months after making its first designation of an operational station, or nine months before the II program is to begin.
  4. The II access plan should be in final approval status six months before the II program is to begin. At this time, the CAT should announce the program and the availability of II beam time.
  5. If a CAT needs to delay the initiation of its II program on a given station beyond the one-year limit because of an unexpected occurrence, it will be expected to submit a written justification for this delay to the APS at least three months before the one-year limit is reached. The APS may refer this justification to the PEB for its evaluation and recommendations.