While ubiquitous in nature, symmetry is not always evident. The first observation of hidden rotational symmetries in a magnetic system gives scientists a toolbox for discovering hidden symmetries in diverse material systems. Read more…
Researchers have turned a benign virus into an engineering tool for assembling structures that mimic collagen, one of the most important structural proteins in nature. The process they developed could eventually be used to manufacture materials with tunable optical, biomedical, and mechanical properties. Read more…
Beginning in this issue, ALSNews will feature a monthly article focused on industrial users and their wide-ranging research projects at the ALS. Our first story features ALS user Andrew McElrone, whose research looks at the grapevine rootstock water transport physiology that is key to the future of California’s grape-growing industry. His research at the ALS is funded by the USDA-Agricultural Research Service as well as by grants from the agricultural industry–most recently the Specialty Crops Research Initiative and the American Vineyard Foundation. His research partnerships include some companies with a big stake in the grape-growing industry, including Gallo, Sun-Maid, Welch’s, Chateau Ste. Michelle, and J. Lohr. Read more…
Ring Leader: Carolyn Larabell
The National Center for X-ray Tomography (NCXT) soft x-ray microscope, Beamline 2.1, is now in its third year of operation. This was the world’s first soft x-ray microscope to be designed specifically for biological and biomedical imaging, and as such has set the pace on developing this modality for imaging biological cells. NCXT Director Carolyn Larabell (at right in photo) provides an overview of the NCXT scientific program and details the unique capabilities of the microscope in this month’s article.
NUFO Chair, Users, SLAC Director Testify before Science Committee
On June 21, Tony Lanzirotti, chair of the National User Facilities Organization (NUFO), spoke before the subcommittee of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, for a session devoted to Department of Energy (DOE) user facilities. Other speakers included two users from industry, SLAC Director Persis Drell, and Suzy Tichenor from Oak Ridge National Laboratory. A press release and webcast of the session can be viewed on the committee’s Web site.
New EPU Installed in Sector 6 Completes ARRA Project
This week saw the successful installation of the latest elliptically polarizing undulator (EPU) at the ALS: a 35-mm-period device to complete the undulator pair at Sector 6. The new EPU will provide polarized soft x-rays for ALS Beamline 6.0.2, which will soon operate independently for the first time. For the last several years, Beamline 6.0.2 has shared the use of the in-vacuum insertion device (IVID)which will now be dedicated to the production of hard x-rays for ALS Beamline 6.0.1. With this addition, the ALS ARRA project is completed. After accelerator tuning is complete, it is expected that light will be introduced into the beamline starting August 1st. This will initiate a new facility for fast studies using soft x-rays, including femtosecond slicing.
All light source users and staff who are attending the 2012 Synchrotron Radiation Instrumentation (SRI) Conference in Lyon (July 9-13) are invited to visit an exhibit being hosted by members of lightsources.org, the international collaboration of light source communicators. More than 30 facilities will be represented by posters that will feature each facility’s capabilities, research opportunities, recent science highlights, and future plans.
ALS Beamline Scientist Kate Jenkins recently spent an afternoon discussing the scientific vailidity of The Avengers with 16- and 17-year-old high school students. It was all in the name of promoting science as cool, relevant, and something to consider as a future career. Jenkins visited with AP and college prep physics students at Albany High School as part of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) program “Day with an Engineer.” Read more…
Events
ALS Science Café, July 24 at Noon, User Support Building, R15-253
For more information regarding the User Meeting program, including workshops, please contact the meeting co-chairs Peter Nico and Chris Cappa.
User Meeting Awards Please consider nominating a colleague for an ALS User Meeting Award. The awards and the nominating process are described here. The nomination packages are due the first week in September. For more information, please contact the Awards Committee co-chairs, Adam Hitchcock and Yves Idzerda
Project Scientist Search The Experimental Systems Group (ESG) offers an immediate opportunity for a synchrotron radiation experimental scientist to work in the area of micro-focused x-ray absorption spectroscopy. More details are available on Berkeley Lab’s employment Web site.
For the user runs from May 15 to June 11, 2012 the beam reliability [(time scheduled – time lost)/time scheduled)] was 96.9%. For this period, the mean time between failures (MTBF) was 22.8 hours, and the mean time to recovery (MTTR) was 49 minutes. There were no significant interruptions.
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).
While ubiquitous in nature, symmetry is not always evident. The first observation of hidden rotational symmetries in a magnetic system gives scientists a toolbox for discovering hidden symmetries in diverse material systems. 
ALS User Meeting – Save the Date!
