Requesting Beamtime
Web submission form
OrientExpress is a support instrument. It is not scheduled like other instruments.
OrientExpress is not free to use at any time. A time request for OrientExpress must be submitted.
- Time allocation on OrientExpress is very flexible, but there are limits.
- Please submit your request as soon as possible before you need OrientExpress.
- Same-day allocation is not guaranteed, especially on weekends.
- Out-of-hours and weekend access may be arranged if a request is made well in advance.
All submissions require a local contact. Be sure to liaise with your local contact when making your submission, and for your OrientExpress requirements before and during a measurement.
Sometimes users may be asked to defer or share their time depending on priorities. In that event, the corresponding local contacts and the OrientExpress responsible will strive to find the best compromise such that everyone gets the time they need. Should that occur to you, we ask for your patience and understanding.
If OrientExpress is needed as a support instrument for another experiment as part of a standard proposal, please request it as part of the proposal. This will consolidate all the relevant data for your experiment under the same proposal number for your convenience.
There are two further routes to request beam time on OrientExpress:
- If the sample is not linked to an accepted ILL proposal, please fill in an EASY proposal on the ILL User Club. Make sure you find a local contact before submitting.
- If the sample is linked to an accepted proposal (ILL or CRG), please fill in and submit the web form. Your local contact for the accepted proposal will also be your local contact for OrientExpress.
Ground Rules
OrientExpress must be respected!
OrientExpress is a support instrument and is available to help you align your samples. It is there to be used, and reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate your needs.
HOWEVER, there are a number of ground rules so that it will function correctly and fairly for EVERYONE.
If you look after the instrument and follow the rules, you will always be welcome and it will always be there when you need it.
- OrientExpress is not a free-service instrument. Time must be booked as far in advance as possible. Last-minute requests might not be accommodated, especially if made out-of-hours or over weekends.
- Everything found on OrientExpress stays on OrientExpress. No "borrowing" is allowed.
- Leave the instrument in at least as good a state as you found it. Take all samples and equipment that you brought with you, and follow the procedure for finishing an experiment.
- Respect other users' time. Your time and experiment are not necessarily more important than theirs. Last-minute accommodations and compromises may be found if different parties agree, but the instrument responsible is the final arbiter if a conflict arises.
- Tell the instrument responsible if something is broken. Despite all the care that you WILL take, stuff might still get broken. If it does, own up and tell the instrument scientist IMMEDIATELY.
The instrument responsible reserves the right to remove access priviliges from the instrument if the ground rules are not respected and OrientExpress is not used responsibly.
Menu
Instrument configuration and layout
Starting an experiment
Mounting a sample
Aligning a sample
Collecting data
Viewing and indexing data
Finishing an experiment
Tips and hints
Trouble shooting
Reference
Please refer to:
OrientExpress: A new system for Laue neutron diffraction
B. Ouladdiaf, J. Archer, G.J. McIntyre, A.W. Hewat, D. Brau and S. York
Physica B 385-386 (2006) 1052-1054