Applying for beamtime at the AS MEX1 and MEX2 beamlines
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If you answer “NO” to any of these questions; STOP. Go back and take the necessary steps to answer “YES”, otherwise your proposal is likely uncompetitive.
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Insert the correct text under the appropriate headings. The experimental section is not an extension of the ‘Scientific Purpose’ or ‘National Benefit’ sections – please only provide information that is relevant to the measurements. Information about the scientific merit or national benefit placed in the experimental section will be ignored. Neither is this the place to describe the synthesis or treatment of your sample material.
Sample table: A quick reference guide to your experiment. The table needs to show details such as, sample type (sample, reference), absorption edge, concentration, intention (number of scans, duration), state (e.g. solid, powder, liquid), measurement temperature (RT, cyro), environment (for MEX2 - vacuum, Helium) estimated time and detection method (fluorescence/transmission). Be concise, sample grouping is permissible and encouraged. The template provided below shows a non-exhaustive range of possibilities to supply the information required. Once filled in, either cut-and-paste it into the webform or upload it as a screenshot/figure. An example of a simple experimental Proposed Experiment section and corresponding table is shown at the end of this document.are given below
If you have complementary data from other techniques that will aid in assessing the viability of your proposed experiment, describe such results. Include figures as required. Please do not include irrelevant information.
The first few hours of beamtime are routinely required for beamline conditioning and user training even when the beamline is running smoothly. Estimate a 4 hr overhead for said activities (8 hr if you are a new to the MEX beamline).
A rough guide to estimating experiment overheads:
Activity | Typical time required |
1x sample rod change using the cryostat | 30 min |
1x sample holder change using the room temperature sample box | <10 min |
Sample alignment after changing samples | 5-10 min per sample holder |
Time for radiation hardness testing and optimising | 1-4 hrs (sample dependent) |
Setup time for in-situ experiments | 4-24 h (strongly depends on setup complexity; consult with the beamline team) |
Example: Proposed Experiment section
Example of a basic Proposed Experiment section for a MEX-1 proposal. For more complex experiments (e.g., in-operando studies), additional detail needs to be included. Please consult with the beamline scientist team to discuss such details or questions.
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