SREL Reprint #2452

Obtaining access to synchrotron-based techniques

Paul M. Bertsch1 and Darrell G. Schulze2

1Advanced Analytical Center for Environmental Sciences, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory,
The University of Georgia, P.O. Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802
2Agronomy Department, Purdue University, 1150 Lilly Hall, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1150

Introduction: Synchrotron radiation laboratories are large complicated facilities and obtaining initial access may appear to be a formidable task. Although there is considerable effort associated with gaining initial access, it is useful to keep in mind that most synchrotron X-ray laboratories are funded as user facilities, charged with providing access to the scientific community at-large. Thus, the metric of success and usefulness of a synchrotron radiation laboratory is the scope, amount, and quality of science conducted at the facility. The commissioning of third generation synchrotron X-ray sources over the past several years coupled with decreased federal spending has resulted in a much greater emphasis on user satisfaction, as these facilities try to expand both capabilities and user community to solidify their funding and maintain full operation potential. It has been our experience that the staff of synchrotron research facilities are generally very helpful to new users, and support services available to users at these facilities have increased significantly over the past five or so years. Synchrotron facilities that are funded by the U.S. Department of Energy are user facilities that have beam time available to individual researchers. The time is allocated based on a peer review, general user proposal system. . . .

SREL Reprint #2452

Bertsch, P. M., and D. G. Schulze. 1999. Obtaining access to synchrotron-based techniques. pp. 241-244 In: D. G. Schulze, J. W. Stucki, and P. M. Bertsch (Eds.). Synchrotron X-Ray Methods in Clay Science, The Clay Mineral Society.

This information was provided by the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (srel.uga.edu).