Irradiation Effects on Human Cortical Bone Fracture Behavior
The role irradiation plays in high-exposure bone fracturing experiments, and how it affects the properties of bone tissue, are not fully understood. To better predict fracturing in bone, researchers must understand the role of sustained irradiation damage at different size scales within bone. Using synchrotron radiation microtomography at ALS Beamline 8.3.2, researchers investigated changes in crack path and toughening mechanisms in human cortical bone with increased exposure to radiation, finding that this can lead to drastic losses in strength, ductility, and toughness. Read more…
Printing computer chips using extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography will enable the production of smaller, faster, and cheaper semiconductors. EUV lithography relies on specialized, curved-mirror lenses to print patterns with high resolution. One special flat mirror called a mask is particularly sensitive to even the smallest imperfections. To better detect and characterize mask defects, Berkeley Lab scientists worked with an international semiconductor industry consortium to create a unique Fresnel zoneplate microscope on ALS Beamline 11.3.2: The SEMATECH Berkeley Actinic Inspection Tool (AIT). Read more…
Changes to the fall operating schedule are required to install a new sextupole power supply. After working without any significant problems for over 15 years, it started to fail frequently about six months ago and despite many repairs, new problems continue to arise, so the power supply must be replaced.
The new schedule will now have a shutdown from Friday, October 21, through Wednesday, November 10, resulting in the elimination of six user shifts. The details are summarized below and can be viewed on the New Long-Term Operating Schedule. Individual beamline schedules will be updated online as they become available.
· 20 more user shifts in September · 14 fewer user shifts in October · 12 fewer user shifts in November · Total user shifts lost: 6
ALS management understands that this disruption in schedule greatly inconveniences our users and staff. That we judge this schedule change necessary does not diminish that inconvenience. Your cooperation and understanding is very much appreciated.
ALS Users’ Meeting Information and Registration
The 17th annual ALS Users’ Meeting will take place from October 13-15, 2010. Registration and meeting details will be available shortly on the ALS Users’ Meeting Web site.
WORKSHOPS: This year’s meeting features 12 workshops at the ALS and two additional workshops jointly organized with the SSRL Users’ Meeting at SLAC. Workshops cover a broad spectrum of scientific areas, including detectors, energy research, spectromicroscopy, transport properties in inorganic solids, spin-resolved photoemission, structural biology, x-ray scattering, science communication, and theory in photon science. The complete list can be found online.
AWARDS: Nominations for the Shirley (Science), Halbach (Instrumentation), and Renner (Service) Awards will be accepted until September 15, 2010. Nominators fill out a simple form. More information is given in UEC Corner below.
POSTERS: The deadline for student poster abstract submissions is September 15, 2010. Students submitting posters have the opportunity to compete for three poster awards, with the winner being given an opportunity to speak at the Friday morning session. For the first time, all students who participate in the student poster competition will give a condensed, one-minute oral presentation (with one slide), introducing their poster. This student “poster slam” will be held at the conclusion of the Wednesday’s general session, just prior to the poster session.
UEC ELECTIONS: The ALS Users’ Executive Committee will be electing four new members this fall. Nominations will be accepted until October 13, 2010, and voting will begin on the second day of the meeting, October 14, 2010. Nomination instructions will be provided on the ALS Users’ Meeting Web site in August.
UEC Corner
Submit Your Award Nominations The ALS Users’ Meeting (October 13-15, 2010) is only a few months away. Now is the time to nominate a worthy individual (or team) who has made a significant contribution to the scientific and/or user support programs at the ALS. Nomination forms for the David A. Shirley, the Klaus Halbach, and the Tim Renner Awards are now available.
The nomination process is easy–just a one-page form and a few other supporting documents. The deadline for nominations is September 15, 2010.
If you plan to attend the Users’ Meeting and need lodging, make your reservation at the Berkeley Lab Guest House soon-before all the rooms are gone.
The UEC members are your representatives to ALS management. All users are welcome to contact their UEC representatives to raise issues of concern relating to their own research, or to alert us to issues facing our whole community.
For the user runs from June 10 to July 2, 2010, the beam reliability [(time scheduled – time lost)/time scheduled)] was 92.7%. For this period, the mean time between failures (MTBF) was 22.1 hours, and the mean time to recovery (MTTR) was 110 minutes. On June 23, a failure within the storage ring SF power supply resulted in the loss of nearly 17 hours of user beam time.
More detailed information on reliability is available on the ALS reliability bulletin board, which is located in the hallway between the ALS and the control room in Building 80. Questions about beam reliability should be directed to Dave Richardson (DBRichardson@lbl.gov, x4376).
The new Acting Director of CXRO Patrick Naulleau gives an introduction to the Center’s personnel, projects, and goals. Read the Article
Announcements
Science Café
The next ALS Science Café will be held in the fall. If you are interested in presenting, please go to the ALS Science Café Web page.
Guest House Special Visiting Berkeley Lab? Book accommodations at the new Berkeley Lab Guest House located on site. The current special features discounted rates, no occupancy tax, and free parking; visit the Web site for more information.
Changes to the fall operating schedule are required to install a new sextupole power supply. After working without any significant problems for over 15 years, it started to fail frequently about six months ago and despite many repairs, new problems continue to arise, so the power supply must be replaced.
AWARDS: Nominations for the Shirley (Science), Halbach (Instrumentation), and Renner (Service) Awards will be accepted until September 15, 2010. Nominators fill out a 
