Diamond Light Source and the ISIS neutron and muon facility will host a four-day general introduction to these facilities, aimed at first-year PhD students within UK research-council funded Centres of Doctoral Training.

The course will provide an introduction to facilities and techniques, based on the following techniques: Imaging & Tomography; Small Angle Scattering & Disordered Systems; Surfaces, Films & Multilayers; Powder & Single Crystal Diffraction; Electronic & Molecular Spectroscopy; Muon Studies. Â The School will be comprised of numerous short introductory talks and selected tutorial/practical sessions, plus evening research seminars given by experienced facility users. It will be suitable for first-year PhD students who have a broad interest in science, and will require no prior experience of the techniques. (Note that ISIS and Diamond provide specialist training in specific techniques, with information available via facility web pages).

TopicsÂ

• NMR theory (product operator formalism)
  
• Multidimensional and multinuclear NMR
• Partial alignment of biomolecules
• Structure calculations and computational methods
• Solid state NMR
• Pulse sequences involving pulsed field gradients
• Methods for spectral assignment
• Relaxation theory and dynamics
• Protein expression and isotope labeling
• NMR enhancement methods (hyperpolarization and DNP)

Week I - Fundamentals, Instrumentation and Qualitative Analysis

Week II - Quantitative Analysis and Method Development

ICDD X-ray Diffraction Clinics

Session II

• Brief review of fundamentals
• Factors affecting accuracy of measured 2theta values: intensity aberrations, specimen displacement, specimen transparency, diffractometer alignment, and the use of external and internal standards
• Factors affecting intensities of diffraction peaks: structure-sensitive properties, specimen-sensitive effects, and measurement-sensitive effects
• Use of computer methods for data reduction and qualitative phase identification: peak-hunting methods, alpha2 stripping, search/match techniques and the Powder Diffraction File™, use of elemental data, error windows and probability searching, and scoring algorithms
• Advanced data mining with the PDF
• Exploration of powder pattern indexing methods
• Quantitative analysis: specimen preparation considerations, Reference Intensity Ratios, absorption correction methods, matrix-flushing methods, and whole-pattern analysis using the Rietveld method
• Structure solution and refinement using the Rietveld method

ICDD X-ray Diffraction Clinics

Session I

• Production and properties of X-rays: continuous and characteristic radiation, absorption, scatter and diffraction
• Production of monochromatic X-radiation: choice of source conditions, use of beta-filters, proportional detectors and pulse height selection, monochromators, use of the Si(Li) and Ge(Li) detectors
• Components of the diffraction pattern: expected reflections, Miller indices, unexpected reflections, effect of scatter and fluorescence, factors affecting peak positions and intensities
• The powder diffractometer: optical arrangement, factors affecting instrumental profile widths; choice and function of divergence slits, calibration and alignment, detectors, X-ray optics
• Acquisition of good diffraction data: specimen requirements, preparation techniques, use of standards, and proper operation of powder diffractometers
• Qualitative phase identification: the Powder Diffraction File™, quality of reference patterns, the Alphabetical, Hanawalt, and Fink Indexes, automated methods, and specialized subfiles
• Industrial applications of X-ray powder diffraction
• Hands-on use of personal computers for demonstration of the latest software
• Data mining with the PDF

Lectures

• Fundamentals of X-ray Physics
• WDX and EDX X-ray spectrometry instrumentation
• Qualitative and semi-quantitative analysis
• Introduction to quantitative analysis
• Types and sources of error
• Precision and accuracy
• Calibration strategy
• Drift, line and interelement correction application
• Fundamental parameters
• Maintaining instrument integrity
• Specimen preparation
  

Workshops:

• XRF instrumentation, components, scope, and comparison using live and disabled WDX and EDX instrumentation.
• Selection of parameters for operation
• Demonstration of personal computer exercises in qualitative and semi-quantitative WDX and EDX analysis
• Demonstration of personal computer exercises employing polynomial regression, line overlap, empirical and fundamental parameter corrections during calibration
• Specimen preparation lecture and demonstration of the use of mixers, grinders, presses, fusion apparatus, etcetera
• Discussion of problems encountered by participants

The 2016 SLAC Crystallization Course

Purpose: The purpose of this course is to provide participants with hands-on experience of a variety of crystal growth methods for obtaining high quality crystals for synchrotron and XFELs sources. The course will address both conventional and non-conventional methods in protein crystal growth. Optimization methods will include application of oils, novel nucleating agents, detergents, crystallization in lipid cubic phase, the use of injectors, acoustic droplet ejection and more. Introductory lectures will precede the hands-on tutorials planned for the course. Time for discussions and informal meetings with the tutors is scheduled.

All students are encouraged to bring their own specimens.

The deadline for applications is January 7th. 2016.

Aim and target

This training course aims at providing a solid background in symmetry and group theory to students and scientists working on crystalline materials.

Program

The training course spans five full days, from 7 to 11 March, 2016. The program is essentially the same as that of the previous training courses

Exercices proposed during the whole course are an integral part of the course: participants are requested to actively take part in solving the proposed exercises. Evening sessions will also be proposed for discussion, practicals, solution to the exercises, questions and answers.

Didactic material will be distributed during the lectures and also made available in electronic form.

Monday, 7 March

• Matrix algebra
• Abstract algebra and the notion of group
• Introduction to crystallographic symmetry and lattices
• Evening: welcome reception

Tuesday, 8 March

• Morphological symmetry
• Stereographic projection, with exercises
• Crystallographic point groups and geometric crystal classes
• Symmetry elements with a translational component (screw axes and glide planes)
• Introduction to space groups: basic notions and the Hermann-Mauguin symbolism
• Graphical construction of space groups
• Evening (20:00-23:00): on-demand practicals, questions & answers optional session

Wednesday, 9 March

• Practicals on the graphical construction of space groups
• Metric tensor and applications
• Matrix representation of symmetry operations
• Change of axial settings and alternative settings of space groups
• Evening (20:00-23:00): on-demand practicals, questions & answers optional session

Thursday, 10 March

• Normalizers
• Chirality
• Wyckoff positions, wyckoff sets
• Factor groups, symmorphic groups
• Crystallographic orbits
• Evening (20:00-23:00): on-demand practicals, questions & answers optional session

Friday, 11 March

• Reciprocal lattice and systematic absences
• Group-subgroup relations
• Structure-substructure relations and applications to displacive phase transitions

Coffee breaks will be served at 10:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Lunch break is from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Language

The official language of the training course is Japanese. No simultaneous interpretation will be provided.

Venue

The training course will be held at the KEK Tsukuba. Details will follow shortly.

Lecturer

Prof. Massimo Nespolo, Université de Lorraine, France (on behalf of MaThCryst)

Local Organizing Committee

Dr Maki Okube, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Prof. Takashi Kamiyama, KEK
Prof. Noriyuki Igarashi, KEK

Registration

Registration will open early 2016 at the Japanese website .

The 2016 Crystallization: Focus on Micro and Nano Crystals and High Throughput Methods Course will take place at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. This hands-on crystallization training program will address basic concepts in macromolecular crystal growth and sample mounting for X-ray diffraction data collection as well as novel applications to macromolecular crystallography experiments at synchrotrons and XFEL's. Attendees will be learning frontier crystallization, sample preparation and manipulation methods for home source, synchrotron and XFEL diffraction experiments including injector and high-throughput goniometer-based approaches. The Course covers introductory lectures and hands-on tutorials, and includes discussions and informal meetings with the tutors. All students are encouraged to bring their own specimens.

The course fee is $450 ($100 registration fee plus $350 social fee to cover all meals).

HERCULES is a European course for PhD students and young researchers using Neutrons and Synchrotron Radiation for applications in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Hard & Soft Condensed Matter.

   The 1-month school includes lectures (60%), hands-on practicals and tutorials at partner institutes (DESY and European XFEL in Hamburg, Ellettra and FERMI in Trieste, ESRF, ILL in Grenoble, Soleil and LLB near Paris, SLS in Switzerland) and Grenoble Laboratories (CEA, CNRS, EMBL, IBS).

   The school includes a common part and two parallel sessions:

• Biomolecular, soft condensed matter structure & dynamics
• Physics and chemistry of condensed matter

  Â

   Why join Hercules ?

• to learn new techniques using neutron and synchrotron radiation
• to expand your theoretical and practical knowledge, not only for your present research but for your scientific career
• to experiment these techniques on world-class instruments & beamlines
• to build a network of relations with fellow young researchers and experienced teachers from all around the World

Deadline for application:Â Â 31 October 2015

Bursaries/reduced costs: a limited number of bursaries will be available either to reduce registration fees or cover travel costs.

Common Lectures:

• Interaction of X-rays and neutrons with matter (absorption, elastic and inelastic interactions, ...)
• Sources (neutron, synchrotron, XFEL)
• Detectors
• Optics &instrumentation
• Diffraction (single crystal, powder..)
• Scattering (elastic, inelastic..)
• Spectroscopy
• Imaging (Absorption, coherent,..)
• etc.
  

Session A: Applications to Biomolecular, Soft Condensed matter, Structure and Dynamics

• Protein structure and dynamics
• Studies in solutions
• Partially ordered systems
• Membranes, fibres and muscles
• Crystallography of viruses and ribosomes
• Structural genomics
• Biomedical applications (imaging, therapy)
• Time-resolved and ultra-fast X-ray science
• Biology with 4th generation sources
• etc.
  

Session B: Applications to Physics and Chemistry of Condensed Matter

• Neutron and X-ray (and UV and IR) spectroscopies
• X-ray reflectivity and diffraction of nano systems
• Single crystal and powder diffraction
• Coherent imaging and tomography
• Neutron and X-ray magnetic scattering
• Polarized X-rays and neutrons
• FEL and ultra fast X-ray science
  
• etc.