Remote Sessions

The user should read and familiarise themselves with the appropriate guide relevant to their data collection session: User guide instructions.

At present, remote sessions are available for:

1) Single particle analysis using EPU.
2) Tomography using TOMO5

​​​Essential user actions prior to remote use of eBIC microscopes

• In advance of the session, the user needs to send their eBIC local contact (LC):
  grid details, loading instructions and data collection parameters.
   
• Users need to be aware:
  - Users need to inform their LC asap if gold grids are being used.
  - For VPP collection, please discuss ahead of your session with your LC.

Local contact expectations

• After sample loading the LC will complete:
  basic microscope alignments, K3 tuning and K3 gain reference collection.
   
• eBIC LC will email users when the microscope is aligned and the image filter tuned, to inform the user that they can start their EPU session set up.
   
• K3 gain reference will be copied to the processing folder in the user's visit folder.

User expectations and advice

• Users are required to select 'non-gain normalised LZW compressed tif' as the movie output format for remote sessions.
   
• AFIS (aberration-free image shift) data collection is recommended by eBIC. The so called 'fast acquisition' significantly increases the speed of data collection and can achieve up to 40% reduction in the illumated area allowing more shots per hole. AFIS is available on all Krios microscopes.
  
  For EPU:
   
  • Fast-acquisition is recommended for most standard SPA setup as it uses AFIS allowing multiple shots per hole and per stage movement leading to higher data collection rates.
     
  • Our recommended setup with K3 cameras is super-resolution with 2-fold binning as this generates fastest data collection rates. To offset potential aliasing, it is recommended to collect one mag higher than required. (e.g., If targeting 81k (1.06 Å/px), use 105k (0.83 Å/px) instead.
     
• Users must let their LC know if they use choose to use super-resolution with binning in their data acquisition pre-set.
   
• Users need to inform their LC once ready to start/or have started the data collection, so the LC can trigger data transfer off the K3 PC and commence the on-the-fly processing pipeline.
   
• Users are welcome to collect multiple data sets during a session, but eBIC ask users to inform their LC within normal working hours (9am-5pm UK time). Multi data collection sessions will require data transfer and the processing pipeline to be started or stopped.

For problems outside 9am-5pm (UK time) during the week when the beamline is on, and on weekends (7am-7pm), users must call Diamond EHCs on +44 (0) 1235 77 8787 and inform them:

- they are a user running a remote session on a Krios electron microscope
- provide the EHC with their local contact's name

The Diamond EHC will make best efforts to get in touch with eBIC staff, who will attempt to address the problem.