Proposal related inquiries: bapsf-proposal@physics.ucla.edu
Director: Walter Gekelman (gekelman@physics.ucla.edu)
Associate Director: Steve Vincena (vincena@physics.ucla.edu)
The Basic Plasma Science facility welcomes proposals for research on the Large Plasma Device at UCLA. Proposals which are accepted can get 1-3 weeks a year of run time, for a nominal cycle of two years. During an experiment the LAPD staff will be on hand to collaborate on the science related to the experiment, set-up the required plasma conditions, place probes in the device, and start computer-controlled data runs that can operate continuously day and night. All diagnostics currently on hand are available to users. To initiate the proposal process:
Send an email to bapsf-proposal@physics.ucla.edu. State the area of research you are interested in and the director or a staff member will get in touch with you. Before writing the proposal to be submitted through MagnetUS, we would like to engage in a conversation aimed at producing a submission of the highest quality. Discussions will include the feasibility of the experiment, equipment required, estimated time and so on. This will lead to a record of discussion document that must be included in the submission package. The initial email and resulting conversation can occur anytime of the year.
The official proposal is to be submitted by the PI to MagNetUS at a designated time. MagNetUS handles the review process and provides a timely peer review, of all requests for LAPD time, for the consideration of the LAPD management.
Note that for BaPSF run time, during the MagNetUS review process, an individual may only appear as the PI on one proposal per year. An individual may appear as a co-PI/collaborator on a second proposal per year, or only as a co-PI/collaborator on a total of two proposals per year, but no more.
The final allocation of time on the LAPD is determined by the director and his staff. This will be based on:
The originality and quality of the science as identified by the MagNetUS reviewers.
The likelihood of leading to timely publications.
The LAPD management will examine the proposals and the MagNetUS reviews, but will focus and judge them by what is written in the first 5 pages. (The record of discussion and references are apart from the 5 pages).
BaPSF leadership and staff understand that the plasma science community can only be strengthened when the makeup of that community reflects the diversity of society as a whole. Therefore, we are committed to creating a research and learning environment that is inclusive, while being cognizant that equitable access for all is necessary to achieve inclusivity. For more information, please visit https://www.physicalsciences.ucla.edu/diversity/ and https://www.pa.ucla.edu/diversity.html.