Joint Workshop for:

The NSLS-II Powder Diffraction Project Beamline

Materials Science Engineering Strategic Planning for NSLS and NSLS-II

January 17-18, 2008

Purpose & Scope for the NSLS-II Powder Diffraction Project Beamline Workshop:
A high-resolution high-energy powder diffractometer is currently part of the NSLS-II project scope. It will be the only high angular-resolution-high-energy (> 40 keV)-capable powder diffractometer in the DOE inventory. The purpose of the workshop will be to present to the community the current design, and thinking about the science enabled by the current design, to garner feedback and to select the BAT responsible for writing the compelling LOI that will bring this instrument to fruition.

Because the materials community is broad no one instrument will satisfy the developments in transformational materials and properties likely to require the use of the NSLS-II. The project beamline will therefore be part of a broader discussion of the Strategic Plan for materials community.

Purpose & Scope for the Materials Scientific Strategic Planning Workshop:
To bring together materials scientists interested in

1. The capabilities of NSLS-II to enhance their research in materials broadly defined
2. Becoming involved in defining the suite of instruments that will allow this research at NSLS-II including beamlines that have been upgraded and transitioned from the NSLS.

The two-day meeting will consist of

1. A half day general session on the features of NSLS-II that make it unique in the DOE inventory of national user facilities, and the mechanisms set up for user input into defining the instrument suite
2. Five (5) parallel semi-autonomous sessions concentrating on
   1. Materials Diffraction and Project Powder Beamline at NSLS-II - JB Parise, Stony Brook, john.parise@sunysb.edu
   2. Materials at High Pressure - L Ehm, Stony Brook/BNL, Lars.Ehm@sunysb.edu
   3. Scattering for Engineering Applications - M Croft, Rutgers, croft@physics.rutgers.edu
   4. Metrology and Radiometry - J. Keister, BNL, JKeister@bnl.gov
   5. Surface and Interface Science - R Headrick, University of Vermont, rheadrick@uvm.edu

Organization of the Meeting:
I. Joint session Thursday morning January 17
Lectures will include descriptions of the NSLS-II, beam characteristics, insertion devices, design principles and management, the mechanisms set-up for community input, and how Beamline Access Teams (BATs) and Letters of Interest (LOI) figure into instrumenting the facility.

II. Breakout sessions Thursday January 17
Participants should come prepared to contribute their ideas in science and beamline design, and to discuss those ideas, in sessions specific to their interest. To facilitate as broad a participation in the discussion as possible, registrants are encouraged to submit a graphical abstract (click here for an example) as examples of the unique science/beamline designs NSLS-II will enable. We anticipate some short talks (10 minutes) will be invited based upon these graphical abstracts. Breakout session organizers and participants will also be encouraged, based on discussions during the afternoon sessions, to choose a way forward for their community.

III. Joint session Friday morning January 18
Each session organizer will present a wrap-up talk to the attendees in joint session. Comments will be incorporated and designated "writers" will begin the writing of Strategic Plans and/or a draft LOI (for the powder project beamline).

IV. Writing session Friday January 18
BATs/Organizers/interested parties will write draft reposts on their sessions

Intended Audience:
Research scientists interested in the opportunities for materials scientists at NSLS-II. All participants are encouraged to submit questions and abstracts well before the workshop, and to bring 2 - 3 Powerpoint/PDF/keynote slides on a memory stick if or possible inclusion in the final report.