Access Routes

Non-Proprietary Access Routes

Different access routes are available to beamlines to ensure that the various needs of the users are met.

Standard Access

To provide regular access to individuals or groups. Two calls per year will be issued with deadlines of 1 April and 1 October each for a six month period, these are October-March and April-September respectively. This is likely to be the principal access route for physical science experiments. Applications should be made online.

Programme Access - Block Allocation Groups

Available to large groups or groups from different establishments who want to make more efficient use of the beamlines and to become familiar with beamline instrumentation. The scheduling of the beamtime is groups to allow greater flexibility in the choice of projects and samples.

BAGs are operating on MX, I11, B18 and I19 beamlines. For further information please refer to the guidelines for life science and physical science.

Applications should be made online.

Key points

BAG (Block Allocation Group) access is the most common route to beamtime on MX beamlines.
BAGs consist of groups of users who apply jointly for beamtime spread over a period of two years at a time.
BAGs usually consist of a number of researchers from the same research institute or of researchers from smaller institutes in the same region of the UK.
If you wish to join a BAG or form a new BAG please contact the Diamond Life Science Coordinator.

Programme Access - Long Term Research

Available for groups to support areas of research that require sustained and guaranteed access to beamtime for their success. The proportion of beamtime allocated to this access route will be set at less than 25% of the total available for users. The principal criterion for the award of programme access to beamtime is the quality of science proposed. Programme access will normally be available only to suitable research programmes that have been funded as result of peer review by a funding agency.

Long term research projects are operating on MX, I05, I06, I08, I09, I10, I11, I12, I13-1, I13-2, I15, I16, I18, I22, B16, B18, I19, B21, B22, B23 and I07. Full details are available in the guidelines.

Programme access projects will last a maximum of two years. There will be two calls for proposals per year with deadlines of 1 April and 1 October.

For groups who require sustained and guaranteed access to beamtime for their success
Normally only available to suitable research programmes that have been funded as a result of peer review by a funding agency
Principle criterion for the ward is on quality of science proposed and the benefit to the user community
guidelines are available

Applications should be made online.

Rapid Access

To provide quick access to the facilities. Users must contact the Principal Beamline Scientist prior to submitting a proposal as some facilities have a restricted amound of rapid access available. Currently this access route is available for the MX beamlines, I05, I06, I08, I11, I13-1, I13-2, B16, B18, I18, I19, B21, B22, B23. To submit an application on the UAS, go to the UAS homepage, create a new proposal and select Rapid Access route. Applications for these beamlines should be submitted online through the User Administration System.

To submit a Rapid Access for time on the Electron Microscope, applications should be submitted by email to useroffice@diamond.ac.uk using the following template. This process will involve the electronic review of applications by peer review panel and, if successful, beamtime will take place as soon as possible.

Proposals for multifacility access on the Harwell Campus

We wish to encourage science which exploits all of the facilities available on the Harwell Campus. Recognising that ISIS and Diamond are the two facilities with the largest overlapping user communities, we wish to make a simple access procedure which allows proposals to be reviewed once by a single review panel where both facilities are required for particular science.

Proposals which require access to Diamond and ISIS should be sent to the facility and review panel which has the most appropriate expertise to judge the quality of the proposal. The choice of facility should be made considering the following factors:

1) Is most of the access required on one beamline/instrument? Is so, then you should send the proposal to the facility where most access is needed.

2) Is the demand or competition for one of the instruments/beamlines considerably greater than all others? If this is the case then the proposal should be sent to the panel where the competition is highest. Each facility needs to ensure that the highest quality investigations are carried on all of their beamlines.

If after consideration of these questions you are unsure about which facility is most appropriate then please contact one of the following:

Andy Dent (andy.dent@diamond.ac.uk), Interim Director Physical Science Diamond

Dave Stuart (dave.stuart@diamond.ac.uk), Director Life Science Diamond

Philip King (philip.king@stfc.ac.uk), Spectroscopy and Support Division Head, ISIS

Sean Langridge (sean.langridge@stfc.ac.uk), Diffraction and Materials Division Head, ISIS

Important!

Before you submit your proposal you should consult with Diamond and ISIS staff so that we can confirm that you have made the best choice of review panel and thereby smooth your path.
The need for guaranteed access to both facilities must be justified explicitly within your science case.

When you have submitted your proposal you must send an email to Philip (philip.king@stfc.ac.uk) and Andy (andy.dent@diamond.ac.uk) to tell us that you have submitted a joint proposal. We will look after the rest of the process for you!

Proprietary Access Routes

There is a fee for beamtime used and services provided. Projects and results are confidential and available only to the customer.

Depending on th your specific needs and requirements, the Industrial Liaison Office can offer a range of service levels:

Beamtime only - you come to Diamond and collect your own data
Remote access - you send us your samples and collect the data yourself from your office/lab
Data collection service - we collect your data and send it to you for analysis

Please refer enquiries to: Elizabeth Shotton, Head of Industrial Liaison, Tel: +44 (0) 1235 778797, email: industry@diamond.ac.uk

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Access Routes

Non-Proprietary Access Routes

Standard Access

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Programme Access - Long Term Research

Rapid Access

Proposals for multifacility access on the Harwell Campus

Proprietary Access Routes