Call for 2024L J-PARC MLF Long-Term Proposals and Application Guidelines
CLOSED
The Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility (MLF) of J-PARC is pleased to announce a call for Long-Term Proposals with beamtime allocations starting from 2024B beamtime period.
1. Long-Term Proposals
We are calling for Long-Term Proposals which
- have clear long-term strategy for research and development
- need proceed in close cooperation with the MLF instrument group
- are expected to lead to the sophistication of measurement technics of MLF
- contribute to human resources development in the nuclear science area.
The validity period is up to 3 years (or 6 proposal rounds); a yearly period of the Long-Term Proposals starts in the B term and ends in the following A term.
Beamtime Requests
- The use of one neutron instrument, apart from BL03, BL20 and BL23, is available for one proposal.
- Only one Long-Term Proposal can run simultaneously at a single instrument. Please refer to 7. Instruments available for Long-Term Proposal” for detailed information.
- The beamtime that can be requested in one year is up to 9 days.
- 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. Please note that we have to lower the above limit for request beamtime in the case when MLF operation period is much more limited than usual.
- There are cases where MLF supports beamtime of the Long-Term Proposals based on their progress.
Liaison
- A Liaison is a group member of the instrument used for the Long-Term Proposal (member of JAEA, KEK and CROSS) who will participate in the proposal as a collaborator from the proposal application stage to the end of the proposal. Please be sure to obtain his/her consent before filling in the name of the Liaison on the application form.
Restriction on submitting other proposals
- A principal applicant and his/her research group can submit only one Long-Term Proposal for the same instrument. They also cannot apply for another Long-Term Proposal for the same instrument before the Experiment Report of the Long-Term Proposal that was approved for the instrument earlier is submitted.
- A principal applicant and his/her research group can submit several Long-Term Proposals for different instruments, with a limit of one proposal per instrument.
- 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 and publish the results of their research in the form of papers, etc.
- The submission of the Experiment Report and registration of the publication can be done on the J-PARC Result Management System.
2. Application Period
from Sunday, March 17 to 17:00 (JST) Monday, April 8, 2024
3. Period of use and expected beam power
[Period of use] November, 2024 - June, 2027
[Expected beam power] 750~850 kW
Please estimate your beamtime with 750 kW.
4. Evaluation points for Long Term Proposal
- Appropriateness of the reason for long term strategy (including sophistication of measurement technics at MLF and contribution to human resources development)
- Academic and industrial significance
- Novelty and originality of research plan
- Feasibility of research plan
- Research funding to support long term project
- Composition of research team
- Activity for dissemination of research outcomes
5. Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants are expected to be researchers affiliated with universities (domestic and foreign), public institutions or private companies. Students including graduate students (students of doctor’s course and master’s course) are not eligible.
- With regard to applicants who belong to the organizations listed in the Foreign End User List of METI or the nationals of non-NPT countries, eligibility to apply is decided in consultation with MEXT etc.
6. Submission Procedure
Please download the application form from the Web site below and submit your proposal via e-mail.
[Language] English
[Download] Application form
[File Format] PDF
[E-mail] proposal(at)cross.or.jp *Please replace "(at)" with "@"
Subject : Long-Term Proposal Application
7. Instruments available for Long-Term Proposal
Instruments for the Long-Term Proposals accepting proposals with beamtime allocations starting from 2024B term are as follows. The details of the instruments can be obtained here (click) Please note that only one Long-Term proposal can be implemented with a single instrument at the same time. The Long-Term Proposals will be called annually, but application cannot be submitted to instruments which already have a Long-Term Proposal running.
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 SuperHRPD: 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.
8. Important Points Related to Call for Proposals
Application
- Applicants are requested to fully consult with the Liaison from the stage of preparing the application.
Proposal Review
- In principle, the review is a document review, but the Review Committee may hold hearings as necessary.
- 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.
9. Execution of Accepted Long-Term Proposals
Yearly procedure
The principal investigator is requested to report the current status of the research and as necessary, submit a research plan for the following years. Continuation of the proposal will be reviewed based on these documents, and if it is judged there is a problem with the continuation of the research (e.g., the research team cannot be maintained, results not expected originally were obtained), the continuation may be refused.
Presenting outcomes
- The principal investigator is requested to submit the Experiment Report of one or two A4-size sheets each year.
- 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.
- For proposals the research has completed, the principal investigator is requested to present the research at the MLF Symposium held inside the Quantum Beam Science Festa, and if notable outcomes are obtained, write an article reporting the research for the MLF Annual Report.
10. Contact
Consultation of research planning
Dr. Takashi Ohhara: takashi.ohhara(at)j-parc.jp
Prof. Takashi Saito: takashi.saito(at)kek.jp
Dr. Hirotoshi Hayashida: h_hayashida (at)cross.or.jp
General Questions
J-PARC Center Users Office, LTP team: proposal(at)cross.or.jp
*Please replace "(at)" with "@"