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The ALS delivers light 24 hours per day, typically from 8 am Tuesday through Sunday evening (Check operating schedule). Research is carried out by independent investigators as well as the Chemical Dynamics Beamline staff. A large fraction of beamtime is devoted to independent investigators, who must submit a proposal to the ALS. Proposals are submitted twice a year to the ALS, typically by June 1 or December 1 for projects to be carried out the following December to May, or June to November, respectively.

Independent investigators often carry out experiments at the beamline in collaborative mode. Users may also bring their own vacuum chambers, electronics, detectors, etc. for carrying out experiments. Those systems must adhere to standard platforms and meet synchrotron safety requirements. Experiments and their special needs are planned well in advance. Independent investigators first establish contact with the beamline staff and discuss their interest in detail.

Chemical Policy

LBNL has procedures for the permission, receipt, management, retention, and disposal of chemical, biological, and soil samples.  Contact the ALS users office for these procedures.  Biological and soil samples are strictly controlled. Those users who bring or have chemicals shipped for their use at the Chemical Dynamics beamline are required to characterize, label, and tag them for health and safety removal before the user's departure at the end of each run period.  No user chemicals can be stored at the beamline or in associated Chemistry Division laboratories at LBNL or on campus.  Shipment of chemicals off the LBNL site is complicated and cannot be done without approved transportation-licensed carriers.  Users are required to clean and service all contaminated chemical lines, valves, pumps, and vacuum parts to restore them to working order for other users.  In general the beamline funding will provide for normal purchases for upkeep of equipment and supplies.  However, damage to equipment that occurs through unusual negligence will be replaced at the user's expense.  A check off sheet reminds users about these duties, as well as provides an opportunity to note malfunctioning electronics, beam instabilities, and breakdowns.

Submission of Proposals for Use of the Beamline

All independent investigators must submit their proposals to the ALS. These proposals, submitted on-line, are typically 2-3 pages in length and should be written such that educated scientists--not necessarily specialists in the field--can understand it. The proposals are reviewed twice a year by an outside committee of experts, and ranked. This group of experts includes well-established researchers in fields of chemistry, physics, and biology, who are familiar with the application of synchrotron radiation to these fields. Most of the committee members are not chemists!

About one month prior to arriving at the ALS, new users should log in with the ALS. This can be done on-line.