User Info

User Q & A Sessions

A copy of the presentation from the January 12th Q & A Session is available HERE. (Preparing for 2023-1)

The January meeting covered: 2023-1 Site Access, COVID information, User Registration, ESAF questions, lab use / gas loading requests, shipping, gate passes, prox cards, and some miscellaneous tips.

A copy of the presentation from the June 22nd Q & A Session is available, and the recording can be found here.

The June meeting agenda covered:

How to submit a General User Proposal (GUP)
How to request beamtime (BTR)
Where to find the latest APS / HPCAT information

A copy of the presentation from the May 25th Q & A Session is available, and the recording can be found here. The May meeting agenda covered:

What’s new for 2022-2
What’s new since pre-COVID
How to submit an ESAF
Where to find the latest APS / HPCAT information

The Argonne Guest House is now accepting reservations (as of May 2022)

Shuttle Service will be available (for arriving and departing guests only) to/from North Gate and the Guest House- Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm. The cafeteria and the 401 Grill are also now open, with limited menus. We’re looking forward to seeing you soon!

How to request 'On-site' access for your experiment in 2022-3

The site access request is triggered by choosing “On-site” as the User Type on the ESAF.

After the ESAF is submitted, APS checks if all users have current, unexpired user badges and that all online training courses are current. There are currently no restrictions on the number of experimenters allowed on site per ESAF
- To renew or request an APS badge
- Links to online training courses are found in "My APS Portal"
- Link to ESAF System
APS will send users reminders to take care of these items
If all users have current badges and training, APS approves the ESAF
Be aware that Users who arrive at Argonne after hours without notifying the APS User Office in advance of arrival WILL BE DENIED ACCESS.

See the updated COVID Rules and Regulations (as of 12/08/2022) for current vaccination requirements.

NEW Gas Loading Request Procedure

HPCAT Users may request our assistance with scheduling use of the GSECARS gas loading facility (https://gsecars.uchicago.edu/gsecars-facility/additional-facilities/gsecars-compres-gas-loading-system/

Send requests for gas loading your DACs to Rich Ferry ferry@anl.gov and Curtis Kenney-Benson curtkb@anl.gov and check the Gas Loading box on the Equipment tab on your ESAF.

Please include all necessary information and allow at least 2 weeks advance notice for loading. DACs need to arrive at HPCAT at least 5 business days prior. NOTE: We can not guarantee that the gas loader, or a technician, will be available on any given day.

For additional information, see: https://hpcat.aps.anl.gov/new-gas-loading-request-procedure

Shipping experimental supplies in advance of your beamtime:

Address for NON-hazardous materials:

Local contact or Curtis Kenney-Benson AND experimenter or PI name
HPCAT, Bldg 434E, Sector 16
Argonne National Laboratory
9700 S. Cass Avenue
Lemont, IL 60439

HPCAT Shipping procedures (DACs)
PEC Experiment Shipping procedures
Shipping instructions for hazardous materials

Please provide a Fed Ex return label if you'd like HPCAT to ship your samples back to you.

The APS App in the ANL App

The Argonne phone app provides an easy-to-use interface that features emergency and safety alerts, non-emergency contacts, maps and way-finding information, updates on the Lab’s response to COVID-19, social media links, and many other resources.

The APS has developed a customized section in the Argonne app for its users that links to the APS User Info web page as well as several key resources such as request assistance from the floor coordinator, a platform to report end of beam time when experiments are completed, and My APS Portal – a personalized gateway to the APS.

Users are encouraged to download the Argonne app on their phone. The app is available for both Apple and Android devices and can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Search for “Argonne” to locate and install the app.

Once the application is downloaded, users can click on the Resources and For Facility Users buttons to reach the APS platform.

HPCAT Remote Access – Some Key Facts

At present, most techniques are available on all beamlines at HPCAT via remote access
In line with APS safety concerns, we are not accepting hazardous samples but Be gasketed samples are acceptable
ESAF has to submitted well in advance to enable shipping and receiving of your samples
For optimal remote access experience, you need to have multiple displays and good internet connection
No cryostat or resistive heating experiments can be performed remotely. You must have 2 users on site for these techniques
On-site support is available 8 am to 5 pm (CT) and off-site support can be expected until 8 pm (CT)

Globus Online - Getting Started
Remote Operations on 16-IDB Laser Heating 2020-3
Remote Operation Guide for 16-BMD
Remote Sample Changer available on 16-BMD - holds 2 DACs

Apply for beamtime

Find updates to the progress of the APS-Upgrade Project here: https://aps.anl.gov/APS-Upgrade
APS will pause operations for a period of 1 year, beginning April 2023.
The General User (GUP) proposal submission deadline for Run 2023-1 was Friday, October 28, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. (Chicago time).
Technical Notes for 2023
User Checklist