Strategic Planning and Policy
Reports from the 2023 Science Visioning Workshops
Four science visioning workshops were held at the 2023 ALS User Meeting in the fields of Condensed Matter and Quantum Materials, Energy Sciences, Earth and Environmental Sciences, and Biosciences. A diverse group of participants contributed to the presentations and discussions, designed to inform the evolution of the ALS’s science portfolio into the 2030s and where investments will be needed to realize the vision. The reports compiled in this document reflect the user and broader scientific communities’ viewpoints as presented and discussed in these workshops.
ALS Five-Year Strategic Plan, FY2023
An updated version of the ALS Five-Year Strategic Plan. Chapter 1 provides an introduction to the ALS and the document. Strategic priorities, including science thrusts and instrumentation, the ALS Upgrade, the user program and workforce development, and safety are covered in Chapter 2. Chapter 3 discusses accelerator and instrumentation projects, and Chapter 4 highlights initiatives and emerging beamline and endstation development opportunities.
Soft X-ray Science Opportunities Using Diffraction-Limited Storage Rings
A key stimulus for this workshop was a revolutionary new accelerator technology that will produce diffraction-limited beams of soft x-rays. “Diffraction limited” means that the wave fronts will be smooth or “coherent” across the entire beam, something like a laser beam. The workshop charge was to evaluate how this unprecedented phase coherence and stability can be leveraged to address the challenges to design and optimize functional structures.
Science and Technology of Future Light Sources
This white paper, a collaboration between four DOE national laboratories, envisions the scientific challenges that can be met by future x-ray sources and instrumentation and summarizes the research and development required to achieve that vision.
Workshop on Scientific Directions at the Advanced Light Source (Part 1)
Workshop on Scientific Directions at the Advanced Light Source (Part 2)
Workshop on Scientific Directions at the Advanced Light Source (Part 3)
Summary and reports of the working groups from the Scientific Directions at the Advanced Light Source workshop, held at the ALS on March 23–25, 1998. This report identifies the elements of the most compelling scientific program for the ALS and makes recommendations for a roadmap to implement that program. (LBNL-42014)
General-Audience Handouts and Brochures
Inside the ALS Poster
An overview of all the components that enable the ALS to produce extremely bright light ranging from infrared to x-rays. This poster includes images and explanations of ALS equipment from the heart of the accelerator to experimental endstations and how they all fit under our iconic dome.
Advanced Light Source: Discover What’s Inside Brochure
An introduction to the ALS for general audiences. This tri-fold brochure provides short, bullet points in answer to the question, “What is the Advanced Light Source?” Includes ALS facts and figures in infographic form and features representative examples of ALS science by users from across the United States.
ALS Quick Facts Sheet
A handy, introductory fact sheet that describes the essentials of ALS: what it is, how it works, how bright it is, and why we need it. The sheet also gives a few interesting facts about the accelerator, users, and the facility as a whole.
ALS “Sampler” Handout
In today’s fast-paced, info-saturated world, how do you quickly convey what the ALS does and how it can benefit society? This handout, developed by the ALS Communications Group and Berkeley Lab’s Federal Government Relations Office, provides a broad overview of the ALS and a sampling of its science.
Photon Science for Renewable Energy
Light sources are uniquely positioned to jump-start a global revolution in renewable and carbon-neutral energy technologies. This 24-page brochure describes many specific ways in which studies performed at the ALS contribute to advancing energy technology. (2012 version.)
K-12 Educational Material
Inside the ALS Poster
An overview of all the components that enable the ALS to produce extremely bright light ranging from infrared to x-rays. This poster includes images and explanations of ALS equipment from the heart of the accelerator to experimental endstations and how they all fit under our iconic dome.
ALS Papercraft Model
A fully rendered model of the Advanced Light Source building at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. When complete, the top of the model hinges open to reveal an illustration of the main components of the ALS, including the accelerator and the beamlines, where experiments are done.
Technical Information
ALS Beamline Design Guide: Information for Beamline Designers, Rev. 2
This manual (formerly known as ALS Beamline Design Requirements) is written as a guide for those involved in the design and construction of beamlines and endstations acceptable for use at the ALS. It contains guidelines and policies related to personnel safety and equipment and vacuum protection.
Advanced Light Source Integrated Safety Management Plan
The organization and implementation of integrated safety management (ISM) at the ALS—a large user facility—is relatively complex compared to other research divisions at Berkeley Lab. The purpose of this plan is to describe this implementation, defining principles and core work functions for the ALS Division.
X-Ray Data Booklet
Published jointly by the Center for X-Ray Optics and the ALS, this handy book offers data relating to the x-ray properties of elements, synchrotron radiation, scattering processes, optics, and other practical information.
Archived Reports and Brochures
Archived Reports
ALS Spectrum (2007–2012)
ALS Spectrum is a publication that encapsulates the same type of information contained in the Activity Reports but in a short, readable, newsletter-like format. Contents also include science highlights, brief reports from ALS staff and user groups, articles about ALS people and events, and facility updates.
ALS Activity Reports (1996–2006)
These hard-copy annual reports, produced from 1993–2006, illustrated the depth and breadth of the ALS scientific program, summarized operations and ongoing R&D, and highlighted educational outreach efforts and special events. The reports for 1996–2006 are available here.
Archived Brochures
Nanoscience at the Advanced Light Source
A guide to the capabilites and facilites available for nanoscience research at the ALS. (LBNL PUB-888)
The Atomic and Molecular Facility on Beamline 10.0.1
A guide to Beamline 10’s facilities for general users studying atomic and molecular physics. (LBL PUB-832)
World Class Protein Crystallography
A guide to the facilities and capabilities of the Macromolecular Crystallography Facility at the ALS. (LBL PUB-817)