Mail-In & Remote Operations

For off-site users, 12-BM provides mail-in and remote experiment options -
where samples are sent to the beamline, and data is collected by beamline staff or remotely by users.

Are you an on-site user looking for guidance on your upcoming beamtime? Check here.

Considerations

Please review the information about sample holders, beamline setup, and restrictions to determine if your experiment is appropriate for mail-in/remote services.

Normal Beamline Setup

- X-ray Energy -

The 12-BM operates with Si(111) and Si(311) crystal pairs.

Si(111): 4.5 - 20 keV | Si(311): 20 - 40 keV

- Detectors -

  • Transmission mode : three ion chambers with 100 MHz converter
  • Fluorescence mode : Vortex 7 elements or 13 elements Ge detector processed by Xspress3 (count rates up to 4 Mcps)

Restrictions

The mail-in service cannot accept any of the following sample types:
Biohazards | Human-Derived Materials | Radioactive Materials | Non-Sterilized Regulated Soils | Explosives or Unstable Materials

How to Apply

contact

1. Contact our Staff

to discuss your projects and request sample holders

proposal

2. Submit a Proposal

to APS system for general user beamtime

Pre-Beamtime

Preparation BEFORE start of experiment:


  1. Please submit the sample holder request form at least two weeks before your schedulded beamtime.
  2. Once your kit is received, mount samples into holders
    - see Mounting Mail-In Samples
  3. Input your sample information using the QR code on the sample holder
    - see demo Input Link
  4. Submit your ESAF (7-10 days before your experiment date)
    - see Experiment Safety Assessment Form (ESAF)
  5. Ship your samples to the beamline
    - see Shipping Guidelines

ESAF Guidelines

  • Include yourself as Remote User and beamline staff (Sungsik Lee and Benjamin Reinhart) as On-Site Spokespersons
  • Attach a full sample list under the Descriptions tab; include associated SDS sheets

Beamline Shipping Address

  • Sungsik Lee or Benjamin Reinhart
  • Attn YOUR NAME and GUP #
  • APS Sector 12-BM, Bldg 433
  • 9700 South Cass Ave
  • Lemont, IL 60439

Available Sample Holders

sampleA

Sample Holder Type A

  • Designed to use washer as a spacer to hold powder samples
  • Up to 15 samples
  • Overall dimension: 100(l) x 56(w) x 2.5(d) mm; 6 mm diameter opening
  • 3/8"(OD) washer will fit this frame:  nylon washers and PTFE washers are available from the links and other venders.
sampleB

Sample Holder Type B

  • Designed to use kapton capillary for liquid samples
  • Up to 15 samples
  • Overall dimension: 100(l) x 56(w) x 2.5(d) mm; 6 mm diameter opening
  • Cut to 12 mm long, 1.5 - 2 mm OD capillary;  1/16",  5/64" are available from the links and other venders.

Beamtime

Guidance DURING your experiment:

For mail-in experiments, samples will be run by beamline staff.

For remote operation, staff will contact your group about orientation. Typically, on the morning of the experiment, the user group initiates a virtual meeting with beamline staff where remote capabilities and experiment instructions are explained in detail. Beamline staff sets up the experiment and walks users through the setup, and then users are able to take over and carry out data collection.

12-BM Cameras?

  • Side Camera
  • Front Camera

Post-Beamtime

What to do AFTER your experiment concludes:

Samples & Equipment

Shipping user samples back to home institutions can be done by beamline staff. Review out-going Shipping Instructions and fill out the required Shipping Form so beamline staff can get samples safely shipped back to the home institution.

Waste Management

Often, samples from mail-in and remote experiments are disposed of after use. This Waste Form needs to be filled out by the user for beamline staff to dispose of user waste.

Data & Publications

Users will receive a link to download datafiles during the measurement. Data files can be sent as email attachment or shared with Box account. Remember to fill out and submit 'End of Experiment' form once it is received and review Citation & Acknowledgment Guidelines for publications.