Use of Multiple Instruments and BT Requests

• The use of multiple neutron instruments is available except BL03, BL20 and BL23.
• In using multiple experimental instruments, the applicant is requested to designate Main Instruments that are indispensable to obtaining academic achievements (multiple choice possible). A Long-Term Proposal is approved only when all the beamtime required for conducting the proposal is available with the Main Instruments.
• The beamtime that can be requested in one year is up to 9 days for one instrument and up to 20 days for all the instruments in total.
• Beamtime allocation to Long-Term Proposals is limited to approximately 5% of the total number of MLF operation days for users each year (standard yearly operation includes 8 cycles (176 days)). The total number of MLF operation days can change largely depending on the budget and operational plan for each year. In the case when MLF operation period is much more limited than usual, we have to set lower maximum limits for both total beamtime and the beamtime for each instrument.

Liaison

• A Liaison, who supports research groups to share the information with the facility and instrument staffs, to arrange sample environment apparatus and beamtime, and to analyze data, should be chosen from MLF staff (member of JAEA, KEK and CROSS). Please consult him/her before filling out the name of the Liaison in the application.
• Initial application can be submitted without appointing a Liaison. The MLF may help with appointing a Liaison suitable for the experiment after receiving the initial application.

Restriction on submitting other proposals

A principal applicant and his/her research group can submit only one Long-Term Proposal in its valid term. They also cannot apply for another Long-Term Proposal before the Experiment Report of the Long-Term Proposal that was approved earlier is submitted.

An applicant/research group with a Long-Term Proposal under review can apply for General-use Proposals (Short-Term) for the same experiment; however, if the Long-Term Proposal is approved, the General-use Proposal (Short Term) application should be withdrawn. An applicant/research group of an approved Long-Term Proposal cannot submit General-use Proposals (Short-Term) for a similar experiment.

Publication of the results

A Long-Term Proposal is categorized as nonproprietary research. As a condition of performing nonproprietary research, the J-PARC MLF requires users to submit their Experiment Report, to publish the results of their research and to register their publication on the J-PARC Result Management System.

Neutron Instruments

[Neutron Inelastic Spectrometers]

• BL01: 4SEASONS 4D-Space Access Neutron Spectrometer (Public)
• BL02: DNA Biomolecular Dynamics Spectrometer (Public)
• BL06: VIN ROSE Village of Neutron Resonance Spin Echo Spectrometers (KEK)
• BL12: HRC High-Resolution Chopper Spectrometer (KEK)
• BL14: AMATERAS Cold-Neutron Disk-Chopper Spectrometer (JAEA)

[Neutron diffractometer]

• BL08: Super HRPD Super High Resolution Powder Diffractometer (KEK)
• BL09: SPICA Special Environment Powder Diffractometer (KEK)
• BL11: PLANET High-Pressure Neutron Diffractometer (Public)
• BL18: SENJU Extreme Environment Single Crystal Neutron Diffractometer (Public)
• BL19: TAKUMI Engineering Materials Diffractometer (JAEA)
• BL21: NOVA High Intensity Total Diffractometer (KEK)

[SANS and Neutron Reflectometry]

• BL15: TAIKAN Small and Wide Angle Neutron Scattering Instrument (Public)
• BL16: SOFIA Soft Interface Analyzer (KEK)
• BL17: SHARAKU Polarized Neutron Reflectometer (Public)

[Neutron Imaging]

• BL22: RADEN Energy Resolved Neutron Imaging System (Public)

[Neutron-Nuclear Reaction, Prompt Gamma-Ray Analysis]

• BL04: ANNRI Accurate Neutron-Nucleus Reaction Measurement Instrument (JAEA)

[Neutron Fundamental Physics, Neutron Device Development]

• BL05: NOP Neutron Optics and Fundamental Physics (KEK)
• BL10: NOBORU NeutrOn Beam-line for Observation and Research Use (JAEA)

Please contact the instrument scientist for the specifications of the instruments.

Initial application

• Applicants are requested to provide the information on their proposal title, abstract, required beamlines, collaborators list and a Liaison to the Initial application form.
• J-PARC MLF recommends to add collaborators who are experts on pulsed neutron experiments as well as those who are familiar with the Main Instruments.

Final application

Applicants are requested to submit the final application after careful deliberation with the Liaison.

Proposal Review

The Review Committee may hold hearings after documentation screening. The assessment of proposals will take into account whether Experiment Reports for previous beamtime allocations had been submitted and whether publications had been properly registered.

Complementary Use

Applicants will be asked if their proposed research includes, or is likely to include in the future, the complementary use of other major research facilities such as, but not limited to, synchrotron radiation facilities (SPring-8, SACLA, KEK-PF, etc.), the K computer, or other quantum beam facilities. If either of the above applies to your proposal, please indicate by marking the relevant tick-box and please indicate the name of the facility and the Beamline number/the name of the instrument.. This information will be used to analyze the trend oｆ proposal application at MLF and will not affect the results of the proposal review or beamtime allocation.

Safety review, utilization and storage of the equipment users wish to bring in

• Safety aspects of the experimental procedure, test sample(s) and the equipment users wish to bring in are reviewed at the time of the final application and at each renewal of the application as the yearly continuation procedure.
• If users wish to bring in equipment, they are requested to consult the MLF on the utilization and storage of it in advance. Permanent installment of the equipment might be permitted if such a user allows the use of the equipment to other users of MLF.
• When the equipment the users wish to bring in is large, there may be a case where an agreement needs to be concluded between the affiliated institute of the user/owner of the equipment and the J-PARC Center. When users are willing to develop new equipment, the MLF strongly recommends that they consult with the MLF at the design stage.

Yearly procedure

The principal investigator is requested to submit a research plan every year as well as renewal application(s) for each experiment on each beamline, which should show the current status of the research and the details of each experiment for the following year.

Presenting outcomes

The principal investigator is requested to present the outcome of the research at the Quantum Beam Science Festa (in a poster presentation) after conducting research for one year.

Interim evaluation

The Long-Term Project must be subjected to an Interim Evaluation in the second year. The principal investigator is requested to personally hold a workshop under consultation with the Liaison, where the reviewer can evaluate the achievements. J-PARC MLF will reject the third year of research plan for a Long-Term Project that has missed being evaluated or has been evaluated as a non-value project.