APS User News
Issue 85, March 18, 2014
CONTENTS
DIRECTOR'S CORNER
APS UPGRADE NEWS by George Srajer, APS Upgrade Director
USER MATTERS
-- 2014 Users Meeting Registration Open!
-- Common Sense Safety
-- Recap: APS Scientists Have Banner Year
BRIEFLY NOTED
-- APS T-shirts Available for Purchase in the User Office
-- 2014 is the International Year of Crystallography
-- Upcoming Meetings of Interest
-- General User Proposal Deadline for Run 2014-3: July 11, 2014
-- Current APS Job Openings
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DIRECTOR'92S CORNER: String of Awards Spotlight Breadth of Talent Using APS
We all know that the ability to stay on the leading edge of research attracts many of the brightest minds from a multitude of fields to x-ray science.
The details of new discoveries revealed through x-ray imaging, scattering, and spectroscopy techniques can be found across the pages of top-tier journals.Still, surrounded daily by breakthrough research and talented scientists, the extraordinary can appear typical, and we can forget how blessed with talent the field and the APS has been.Several recent awards reminded me of this. And it reinforced one of the reasons that I love working here: the chance to collaborate with talented, motivated people at the tops of their fields. I hope you feel the same and join me in congratulating your colleagues for their well-deserved honors.
Kwang-Je Kim, a theoretical physicist in the Accelerator Systems Division (ASD) at APS and a part-time University of Chicago professor, won the American Physical Society'92s 2014 Robert R. Wilson Prize for the Achievement in the Physics of Particle Accelerators and the US Particle Accelerator School Prize for Achievement in Accelerator Physics and Technology.Both awards recognized his pioneering theoretical work in synchrotron radiation and free-electron lasers that laid the foundation for both third and fourth generation x-ray sources. The US Accelerator School additionally honored him for his years teaching young scientists through the school and for creating the Argonne Accelerator Institute and growing it into to a statewide resource for collaboration and support in accelerator initiatives.
Robert Von Dreele, a senior physicist in the X-ray Science Division at Argonne, has been awarded the prestigious Hanawalt Award by the International Centre for Diffraction Data.The award committee cited Von Dreele'92s insight, courage and creativity in bringing powder diffraction to the macromolecular community. Von Dreele, who came to the APS in 2001, authored a publication describing the first protein structure solved from powder diffraction data. He pioneered the General Structure Analysis System program suite for Rietveld analysis, a valuable method for structural analysis of nearly all classes of crystalline materials not available as single crystals.
Katherine Harkay, of the Accelerator Operations and Physics Group in ASD, has been elected to Fellowship in the American Physical Society. Harkay was cited for '93significant contributions to the understanding of the physics of electron cloud effects and the experimental investigation and understanding of collective effects, as well as for playing leading roles in development of photocathodes and superconducting undulator technology."
The recent accolades aren'92t limited to APS staff.
Meimei Li, a frequent user of the APS from Argonne'92s Nuclear Engineering Division, received a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) for her contributions to the understanding of nuclear reactor materials. Li uses the intense X-rays provided by the APS and facilities at the Electron Microscopy Center to probe the structure of the materials from the atomic to mesoscale. She studies the dynamics of microstructural evolution in materials in situ to understand and predict their behaviors in the extreme conditions found within a nuclear reactor.
Carlo Segre, deputy director of the Biophysics Collaborative Access Team (BioCAT) at the APS, has been named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Election as an AAAS Fellow is an honor bestowed upon AAAS members by their peers. Segre is a Duchossois Leadership Professor of Physics at Illinois Institute of Technology.
Two former APS users were named MacArthur Foundation 2014 Fellows. Dubbed genius grants, these unrestricted fellowships are given to individuals who display exceptional creativity, a promise for future advances, a significant track record of accomplishments and a breadth of experience.
Craig Fennie, an assistant professor of applied and engineering physics at Cornell University, has received the fellowship for his materials science work. His work focuses on discovering new properties in chemically complex bulk solids and nanostructures, particularly multiferroics. Fennie spent two years at Argonne's Center for Nanoscale Materials as the Nicholas Metropolis Fellow. While there he did work at sector 4 at the APS and then continued that work after he moved to Cornell in 2008.
C. Kevin Boyce, assistant professor of geological and environmental sciences at Stanford University, has received the award for his research into the biological and environmental impacts of the evolution of plant structure and physiology. The paleobotonist used the APS to study living plants and fossils while he was working at the University of Chicago.
It is an honor to work at a national facility that can help such great minds pursue their passions and in the process expand our understanding of the world and the tools we use to study it. I look forward to seeing what they, and the rest of the APS users come up with next.
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APS UPGRADE NEWS by George Srajer, APS Upgrade Director: Upgrade Project Gains Momentum
During the last few months, a whirlwind of activity has surrounded the APS Upgrade (APS-U) project and generated huge excitement for this once-in-a-generation opportunity.
In early October, we organized more than a dozen meetings with user groups to evaluate the opportunities for using the multi-bend achromat (MBA) lattice. We also held several tutorials on the characteristics and capabilities of this new accelerator source. The constructive ideas garnered from these meetings helped focus the topics of discussion at the inaugural Workshop on Scientific Opportunities Provided by a Multi-bend Achromat Lattice at the APS held at the end of October 2013. Close to 400 people attended the workshop.
Attendees reported that the MBA lattice at the APS will provide significant benefits. Several ideas for truly transformational science were proposed. Many of these were collected into a preliminary workshop report that is now available at the APS Upgrade web site.
Following the workshop, we presented the new MBA lattice plan along with several transformational science examples to the APS Scientific Advisory Committee and received favorable reviews. Committee members expressed excitement that this long-awaited technology had finally matured enough to incorporate into a fourth-generation storage ring lightsource.
At the December 2013 Workshop on Diffraction Limited Storage Rings held at SLAC National Laboratory (https://portal.slac.stanford.edu/sites/conf_public/dlsr2013/Pages/defau…), the APS-Upgrade was a frequent topic of conversation. Discussions in accelerator sessions supported the current approach to developing the APS-U MBA lattice design. In the photon sessions, the community confirmed and further developed the scientific opportunities brought about by this technology that had been discussed at the October APS workshop.
The coming months will be filled with more activity as the project undergoes several beam physics and technical reviews necessary for revising the Conceptual Design Report. The first in the series of reviews was held on February 13 and 14, 2014, on the APS MBA Lattice Beam Physics. The committee made up of experts from ESRF, MAX-IV, Soleil, Diamond, NSLS-II, and ALS concluded that '93the team has made outstanding progress in a short time period towards the conceptual design'94 and that the APS Upgrade program has '93an excellent and very competent team.'94
We also are in the process of developing ideas from the MBA lattice Workshop that push the science frontier the furthest in a focused APS-U Science Case document that will be incorporated in the revised Conceptual Design Report.
In parallel to the technical reviews and development of the science case, the APS staff is preparing a cross-facility session at the Users Meeting in May to discuss the capabilities of an MBA lattice at the APS and the science opportunities it will enable.
After the Users Meeting, we will schedule follow up workshops tailored to the needs of our different research communities. We also will hold periodic meetings to update users on the design progress of the MBA lattice and associated trade-offs so that they can provide input on the best ways to take advantage of its unique capabilities. Three key improvements that the MBA lattice will provide over the current APS design are:
The ability to focus all of the x-rays down to nanometer size spots,
100 to 1,000 times increase in coherent flux,
100 to 1,000 times increase in brightness per pulse.
In addition to increased brightness, the MBA lattice provides for a variety of insertion devices that would not be possible otherwise, potentially opening new avenues of research.
Incorporation of the MBA lattice offers transformational opportunities for the APS and for the user community. With your input, we can make sure that we take advantage of the two-to-three orders of magnitude increase in brightness to develop and build science programs that will keep the APS at the forefront of x-ray science for the next several decades.
It is truly exciting time, and I look forward to stimulating conversations from all of you at upcoming workshops.
USER MATTERS
2014 Users Meeting Registration Open!
The 2014 APS/CNM/EMC Users Meeting: User Science: Discoveries for Tomorrow will be held May 12-15, 2014. This year'92s event is not to be missed, with many exciting speakers and workshops slated.
The meeting will kick off with keynote speaker Dr. Katherine Kantardjieff (Dean, College of Science and Mathematics, California State University, San Marcos) speaking on '93Truffles and M&Ms: How the new digital age is reshaping the future of science.'94 Additional presentations on the DOE Perspective (invited) and the facility directors will round out the opening session. The afternoon will focus on three facility plenaries, each featuring keynote talks, student award presentations, and, for the APS, a talk by the winner of the 6th Rosalind Franklin Young Investigator award.
Monday evening, attendees are invited to join the banquet event being held this year at the Two Brothers Roundhouse, a historic site in Aurora, IL. The roundhouse was originally built in 1856 and is the oldest limestone roundhouse in the United States; it served the Chicago and Aurora Railroad and then later the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad. Live music, an excellent BBQ buffet, and beer tastings from the Two Brothers Brewing Company will make this a terrific evening out!
Three cross-facility workshops (jointly organized by APS, CNM, and EMC) will fill the second day of the meeting:
Beyond Lithium Ion Batteries: Chemistry, Materials, and Characterization: addressing the discovery and spectroscopic/microscopic characterization of new active materials and electrolytes, the optimization and improvement of standard materials, and chemical/electrochemical reactions/interfaces and their mechanisms.
The APS MBA Upgrade: Introduction and Scientific Opportunities: covering accelerator design (from a user's point of view), optics, detectors, and x-ray theory and highlighting a variety of science opportunities relevant to the extremely high brilliance of the low-emittance storage beam after the MBA upgrade.
A Historical Perspective: The First 100 Years of Crystallography: a series of lectures to acknowledge the International Year of Crystallography and the 100th anniversary of Bragg'92s Nobel prize for the discovery of the diffraction of x-rays from crystals.
The Users Meeting poster session will take place Tuesday evening at the TCS Building (240). Each year more than 150 posters draw meeting attendees to this highly interactive event. Shuttle bus service between APS and the TCS is provided. Deadline for submission of poster abstracts is April 1.
Wednesday will offer facility workshops from APS and CNM '96 nine diverse topics to choose from. Please see the web site for more details.
As always, a broad array of companies will be on hand Monday through Wednesday for the exhibitor event held annually at the Users Meeting. Nearly 50 companies brought together in one location highlighting the latest products and services of interest to users!
Registration is open at https://www.regonline.com/2014APS_CNM_EMC_UM. The meeting web site is continually being updated as more information becomes available on confirmed exhibitors, speakers, and talk titles, so please check back often to see the latest! The deadline for the early registration rate is Friday, April 25, so don'92t delay! We hope to see you at this year'92s meeting!
Common Sense Safety
There are a number of safety problems common to most workplaces that can be solved with a little common sense. Planning and thinking ahead can help eliminate most of these hazards. Take a close look at your workplace with these suggestions in mind.
Eliminate junk piles. Organize a cleanup program to remove trash, broken parts, and scrap from work areas, walkways, storerooms, and neglected corners. Look for materials that have been stacked improperly. An unstable stack is a real danger to anyone who may be near if the material suddenly falls. Check such things as boxes, equipment, construction materials and even office files to see that materials are stacked properly.
Examine all the operations of your workplace to determine if personal protective clothing is needed, then make it readily available. Ear protection, eye protection, gloves, or other protective clothing and equipment must be worn according to the potential hazard exposure(s).
Make sure all electric power tools are grounded. Protect yourself from electric shock by using tools with three-prong plugs, a ground-fault system, or double insulation. Never cut off the ground plug on a three-prong plug. Check electrical cords and wires for any damage. Guard power tools and moving machine parts. Tools and equipment should never be operated with the guards or shields removed.
Inspect portable ladders to make sure they are secure and don'92t shake or wiggle. Nonslip feet are a must. If a ladder seems weak, get rid of it '96 don'92t let others use a defective ladder. Mark it as defective and throw it away. Fire extinguishers are a must and should be mounted properly, readily accessible, and in working order. Check fire regulations to make sure they are properly placed and the right type for your work area. When was the last time your fire extinguishers were tested? Extinguisher inspections should be made regularly then tagged to show when and who performed the tests.
Exits should be clearly marked with easy-to-read signs placed above the doors. Signs with arrows should also be used to guide people to the exit if the layout of the workplace is confusing to those unfamiliar with your facility. Illuminated signs should be kept in working order at all times. Don'92t block exits or signs with vehicles or material. Another good idea is to mark doors that are not exits with '93This is Not An Exit,'94 '93Restroom,'94 '93Storeroom,'94 or '93Closet.'94 Put handrails on all stairways. The stairs themselves should be in good shape with nonskid treads. Report or repair those that are damaged or chipped.
Safety meetings are one of the most important parts of a good safety program, so hold them regularly. Impress upon every employee that it'92s important that they take every precaution to keep the workplace safe. Both employee and employer attitudes toward safety provide a key to a successful safety program. Posters, handouts, and training programs can all be part of your safety communication.
Recap: APS Scientists Have Banner Year
The past year has seen several APS staff and scientists recognized in their fields with a variety of awards, appointments, and other prizes. Here'92s a recap:
Michael Borland (Associate Division Director, Accelerator Systems Division, APS): Awarded the Asian Committee for Future Accelerators ACFA-IPAC'9213 Prize for recent, significant contribution to the field of accelerator science.
Peter Chupas (Structural Science Group Leader, X-ray Science Division, APS): Named as one of the Chicago '9340 Under 40: 2013'94 by Crain'92s Chicago Business.
Katherine Harkay (Accelerator Operations and Physics Group, Accelerator Systems Division, APS): Elected to Fellowship in the American Physical Society.
Jan Ilavsky (Argonne Physicist working in partnership with ChemMatCARS at APS Sector 15, X-ray Science Division, APS) Presented with the inaugural Award for Excellence in Beamline Science at the 2013 APS/CNM/EMC Users Meeting.
Ali Khounsary (former Engineering Support Division, APS): Appointed as an Associate Editor of the ASME Journal of Heat Transfer.
Kwang-Je Kim (Argonne Distinguished Fellow, Accelerator Systems Division, APS): Recipient of the 2014 Robert R. Wilson Prize for Achievement in the Physics of Particle Accelerators and awarded the 2013 U.S. Particle Accelerator School (USPAS) Prize for Achievement in Accelerator Physics and Technology.
Dennis Mills (Deputy Associate Laboratory Director, APS): Named Chair-Elect of the American Physical Society's Topical Group on Instrument and Measurement Science (GIMS) for 2014 and named to the Advisory Editorial Board of Structural Dynamics.
Robert Von Dreele (Argonne Senior Physicist, X-ray Science Division, APS): Awarded the prestigious Hanawalt Award by the International Centre for Diffraction Data.
Linda Young (Division Director, X-ray Science Division, APS): Appointed an Associate Editor of the new journal, Structural Dynamics.