Welcome to the HPCAT User Guide — your central resource for planning and carrying out a successful beamtime at the High Pressure Collaborative Access Team (HPCAT), Sector 16 of the Advanced Photon Source (APS) at Argonne National Laboratory. Whether you are a first-time visitor or a returning user, this page will walk you through every stage of the process, from requesting beamtime and registering as an APS user, to preparing for your experiment, navigating the Argonne campus upon arrival, and completing post-experiment requirements. Each section below links to detailed instructions, forms, and contacts to help ensure your visit runs smoothly. We recommend reviewing all relevant sections well in advance of your scheduled beamtime, as several steps — including user registration, safety approvals, and shipping — require significant lead time.
16-ID-B, 16-BM-B and 16-BM-D are accepting General Users for the 2026-2 run cycle!
Learn how to Request / Apply for Beam Time
Includes links to APS User Registration, the Universal Proposal System and information for both prospective and returning users.
Actions required prior to your beamtime
Includes links to Registration, ESAF system, Online Training, Gas loading request, Shipping instructions, Dosimeter request
Arriving for beamtime
Includes links to Site Entry requirements, Directions and Maps, Evening/Weekend Gate Pass request, Floor Coordinator request
During your beamtime
Includes information about Dosimetry, Welcome Center & APS User Office contacts & hours, LabCab, Campus Dining options, APS ring status, Floor Coordinator request, IT support, Steering request and more
After your beamtime
Includes information about shipping, End of Experiment forms, data access through Globus, Acknowledgement statement