Equipment Availability

To access sample preparation equipment separate from approved beamtime please contact a member of staff and follow the procedure for offline laboratory access.

To access offline equipment separate from approved beamtime please contact a member of staff and follow the procedure for offline laboratory access.

Our DAC policy is split into DAC loaning only and DAC loaning + sample loading.

DAC loaning only is aimed at researchers who want to conduct DAC experiments at I15 and have DAC experience and are able to load DAC samples themselves but who do not currently have access to their own DACs. In exceptional cases where gas loading is required I15 may also provide DACs to groups who do have their own DACs.

• DACs will only be loaned to research groups who do not have access to their own DACs.
• If gas loadings are required as part of the experiment I15 may loan DACs to groups who also have their own DACs, such requests will only be considered if they are discussed with I15 staff before submission of the proposal
• The need of a DAC loan has to be requested explicitly in the main text of the beamtime proposal, otherwise the loan of a DAC cannot be guaranteed.
• Membrane-driven DACs (LeToullec design) and Almax Plate DACs are available for loan.
• Maximum 3 DACs per user experiment will be loaned.
• Users must agree to replace any damaged diamond anvils and/or membranes.
• DACs will be provided for standard diffraction and XPDF experiments at ambient temperature, for external resistive-heated DACs and for laser heating experiments.
• Any decision regarding any issue that affects the safety of the equipment ultimately lies with the beamline staff.
• The equipment has to be operated under the health and safety rules provided and the advice of the beamline staff must be followed.

DAC loaning + sample loading is aimed at researchers who want to conduct DAC experiments at I15 but who are unable to load DAC samples themselves. In this case I15 staff will provide a limited number of sample loadings and train the users so they are able to load their own samples for future experiments.

• DACs and sample loadings will only be provided to non-DAC research groups.
• The need of a DAC + sample loading has to be requested explicitly in the main text of the beamtime proposal, otherwise the provision of DAC + loading cannot be guaranteed.
• Membrane-driven DACs (LeToullec design) and Almax Plate DACs are available.
• DACs will be provided for standard diffraction and XPDF experiments at ambient temperature and for external resistive-heated DACs.
• Maximum 3 DACs + 2 sample loading will be provided by I15 staff. After these 2 initial sample loadings users are expected to load their own samples for future experiments. Therefore at least one member of the experimental team MUST BE PRESENT during these 2 sample preparations as this time will also be used to train users in how to load DAC samples.
• After these 2 initial loadings I15 staff will supervise a further 3 - 5 sample preparations conducted by the user, after that users are expected to become self-sufficient with respect to DAC sample loadings (I15 staff are of course always available for consultation).
• Any decision regarding any issue that affects the safety of the equipment ultimately lies with the beamline staff.
• The equipment has to be operated under the health and safety rules provided and the advice of the beamline staff must be followed.

• The request of gas loading and the gas or gas-mixture should explicitly be made in the beamtime proposal.
• Users have to ensure they contact the beamline team well in advance (minimum 10 weeks) of the beamtime to discuss details of the request and the availability of the equipment.
• We cannot guarantee a successful loading and will not be liable for any damage to DACs not belonging to I15.
• Any unsuccessful loading will lead to a cancellation of the beamtime by the users and they should resubmit the proposal. Alternatively, the beamtime can go ahead if users have prepared a back-up experiment.
• The gas loader is designed to accommodate membrane driven DACs with diameter ≤60 mm and height ≤85 mm and mechanical DACs of Syassen-Holzapfel type.
• Standard pressure media are He, Ne, Ar or N₂; other inert gases or gas mixtures have to be requested well in advance (minimum 10 weeks) of the beamtime.
• The equipment is available for academic users; industrial users should contact Elizabeth Shotton.
• The use of the equipment has to be stated in all related publications.
• The equipment has to be operated under the health and safety rules provided and the advice of the beamline staff must be followed.

Users intending to use I15's gas loading system have to request it in the proposal.