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Notes for Experiment

At MLF, please conduct your experiments with utmost attention to safety. Before your experiments, please read the contents of this page carefully and consult the staff if you have any questions.

Experiment rules at MLF

For safety guidelines regarding the bringing in of samples and equipment, high voltage, and gases, please refer to the "Experiment rules".

Experimental precautions

Clothing during experiments

  • Shorts, skirts, and bare feet are prohibited
  • Short sleeves are permitted

Activity limitations

Users are prohibited from the following activities. Please discuss with the staff if necessary.

  • Crane operation within the Experimental Hall
  • Electric panel work
  • Hot work (welding, soldering, etc.)
  • Work at heights above 1.5 ｍ
Bringing in gas cylinders

Please discuss with the staff beforehand when bringing in or purchasing a gas cylinder.

Miscellaneous precautions

  • Do not work alone inside sealed spaces, or in hazardous areas.
  • Please do not place items near equipment, electrical panels, points of entry / emergency exits, corridors, fire extinguishers, etc.
  • Please do not move safety equipment (e.g., fire extinguishers, flashlights) from their designated locations.
  • When stacking items on top of each other, please ensure that the items are securely fastened.
  • Please ensure that precautionary steps to prevent items toppling over and falling are taken in anticipation of earthquakes (do not place tall objects near evacuation routes or near users).
  • Please ensure that either a lock or brakes are used for cylinders on casters.
  • Please do not approach an instrument or area with warning lights on.

Precautions about radiation safety

There are precautions associated with the radio-activation of samples exposed to beams during experiments at MLF. Please be well aware of them when conducting experiments.

Restriction on bringing in into MLF

Taking out samples and equipment used during experiments

Surveys conducted by the radiation management section must confirm that the samples and equipment directly or indirectly exposed to the beam are not radioactive (i.e., at background levels) before they are allowed to be removed from MLF (i.e., outside the controlled area).

Opening of liquid / powder sample cells and handling of samples

As a general rule, the opening of liquid and powder sample cells must be conducted in Experimental preparation laboratory 3, in order to prevent scattering. Please discuss with the technician for details.

Note that the liquid and powder samples used in experiments are subject to handling limits, such as safety measures taken to prevent scattering and leakage, so please discuss with the staff on this issue.

Restriction on bringing in into MLF

Bringing in radioactive or exposed samples/equipment

Any material defined as radioactive isotopes by Japanese law require federal approval prior to come to MLF, otherwise bringing in RIs into MLF is prohibited.

Coordination with MLF one year prior to scheduled experiments is required for bringing in RIs for experimental use. Please discuss this with the staff beforehand.

Samples and equipment that have been exposed in other facilities may be brought in if that facility has recognized it is not radioactive (for general items). In other words, bringing in samples and equipment may be limited (in some cases prohibited) if they are confirmed to be radioactive (items that have been radio-activated, or radioactive substances) at another facility. Please discuss this with the staff beforehand.

Bringing in nuclear fuel material samples, etc.

Samples classified as nuclear fuel materials have not been approved by the federal government, and as such their import into MLF is prohibited.