CONEXS Conference

Emerging Trends in X-Ray Spectroscopy

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The Collaborative Network for X-Ray Spectroscopy (CONEXS) is an EPSRC-funded network in partnership between Newcastle University and Diamond Light Source. The first CONEXS Conference will be taking place at Newcastle University on the 18-20 February 2020, bringing together leading national and international experts to discuss emerging trends in X-ray Spectroscopy and examine the intersection of experiment and theory.

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Date: 18-20 February 2020

Venue: Newcastle University, UK

Call for Abstracts

We are now welcoming submissions for abstracts for both oral presentations and posters, the abstract guidance and the submission form are available here:Â https://research.ncl.ac.uk/conexs/conference/abstractsubmission/.

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Registration (https://research.ncl.ac.uk/conexs/conference/registration/)

Registration for the conference is now open, at a rate of £150 (standard) or £75 (students/ECRs). This price includes attendance at the conference dinner.

Keynote speakers

•            Prof. Serena DeBeer, Professor and Director, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion

•            Prof. John Rehr, Professor Emeritus of Physics, University of Washington

•            Prof. Sonia Coraini, Professor in Physical Chemistry, University of Denmark

•            Dr. Anna Regoutz, Lecturer in Materials Chemistry, University College London

•            Prof. Matthias Bauer, Professor in Inorganic Chemistry, University of Paderborn

•            Prof. Neil Hyatt, Professor of Nuclear Materials Chemistry, University of Sheffield

•            Dr. Marius Retegan, Scientist, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility

•            Dr. Olga Safonova, Senior Scientist, Paul Scherrer Institute

•            Dr. Mihaela Gorgoi, Beamline Scientist, EMIL Berlin

•            Prof. Jakub Szlachetko, Associate Professor, Institute of Nuclear Physics PAS

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Conference website: https://research.ncl.ac.uk/conexs/conference/

This latest edition of the summer school, which will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Bombannes Summer School, will continue the devotion to the practical approach to understand scattering methods (neutron and X-ray) to study the structure and dynamics of colloids, polymers, surfactants and biological macromolecules. All young researchers (post-graduate and post-doctoral levels) working in European laboratories are encouraged to apply.Â

Registration deadline: 22nd February 2020Â

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The School targets young scientists to introduce them to the exceptional research opportunities offered by synchrotron and free-electron-laser (FEL) facilities worldwide for exploring the properties of all types of matter.

The school will provide an overview of the production and characteristics of synchrotron and free-electron-laser light, its interaction with matter and the numerous experimental methods enabled by these interactions that have become indispensable tools spanning over all domains of basic and applied research. The school lecturers will demonstrate the multidisciplinary applications and the most recent instrumental developments and science breakthroughs in the fields relevant to their expertise. The program will also include discussions of the lecturers with the students, talks describing the open access to these facilities based on the merits of the proposed project and possible industrial application. Demonstration sessions will be organized at the beamlines of Elettra's synchrotron and FEL facilities.

Topics:

• Production of Synchrotron and FEL Radiation
  
• Properties of Synchrotron and FEL Light
  
• Photon-Matter Interactions
  
• Photon Transport and Beamline Instrumentation
• X-ray Absorption and Fluorescence Spectroscopy
• Photoelectron Spectroscopy Methods
• X-ray Diffraction Methods
• X-ray Scattering Techniques - SAXS, WAXS, XPCS, RIXS
• Imaging Techniques using Synchrotron and FEL Light
• X-ray and IR Spectromicroscopy.
• Time-resolved Approaches and non-linear X-ray Optics

Grants: A limited number of grants are available to support the attendance of selected participants, with priority given to participants from developing countries. There is no registration fee.

UXSS is an annual event jointly organized by the Center for
Free-Electron Laser Science (CFEL) in Hamburg and the Stanford PULSE
Institute. UXSS is intended to introduce students and postdocs to the
latest science that is enabled by novel X-ray Free Electron Lasers. The
program will be highly interdisciplinary, with topics ranging from
materials physics to structural biology. The list of confirmed speakers
can be found below. There will also be a coursework exercise involving
a mock proposal for European XFEL, with the help of experienced mentors.

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The lectures cover the following topics:

• introduction to X-ray sources
• atomic and molecular physics
• condensed matter physics with X-rays
• theory of X-ray matter interaction
• structural biology
• matter in extreme conditions
• chemical dynamics
• coherent diffractive imaging
• inelastic X-ray scattering

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The main topics will be:

• Production and properties of synchrotron radiation;
• Free electron lasers;
• Basics of the interaction between matter and radiation;
• X-ray absorption spectroscopy (EXAFS and XANES);
• X-ray diffraction (single crystal and powder diffraction, anomalous scattering);
• Small angle X-ray scattering;
• X-ray microscopy;
• Photoemission (from valence and from core levels; angular, time and spin resolved);
• IR spectroscopy and microscopy;
• Imaging;
• Resonant spectroscopy and diffraction;
• Inelastic X-ray scattering.
• Applications in the fields of materials, nanoscience, magnetism, catalysis, earth science, environmental science, cultural heritage, biology and medicine will be presented.

The joint IWP/RIXS2017 workshop aims at covering a broad field related to photoionization/RIXS processes on diluted matter: atoms, molecules, ions, transient species, molecular complexes, clusters, nanoparticles and liquid interfaces. Both experimental and theoretical approaches should be covered as well as new methodologies associated with synchrotron radiation and with short-wavelengths and/or short pulses sources such as FELs and HHG. We intend also to foster interfaces with chemistry, life sciences, and nanosciences.

The school will take place July 30-August 13, 2016. The school will start at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN and will continue at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL after roughly one week. Students will be housed and transportation will be provided from lodging to the school. Lodging accommodations will be available starting July 30, 2016. Lectures and hands-on experiments will be held during normal working hours, but some experiments will be conducted during evening sessions. Social events will be arranged for participants.

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 Program

The program of the school focuses on the following areas:

• The fundamentals of the interaction of X-rays and neutrons with matter
• X-ray and neutron production and experimental instrumentation
• Theory and practical application of various X-ray and neutron experimental techniques
• Hands on experience gained through experiments at the Advanced Photon Source (APS), Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) and High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR).

Lectures are given by prominent scientists drawn from universities, several national laboratories, and industry. Subjects for lectures include:

• Interactions of X-rays and Neutrons with Matter
• Neutron Generation and Detection
• Neutron Instrumentation
• X-ray Generation and Detection
• X-ray Instrumentation
• Single-Crystal and Surface Diffraction
• Powder Diffraction
• Inelastic Scattering
• Reflectivity
• Magnetic Scattering
• EXAFS
• Small Angle Scattering
• Diffuse Scattering
• Nuclear Resonant Inelastic X-ray Scattering
• Coherent X-ray Scattering
• Amorphous Scattering

Experiments are led by the staff of the beamlines at the APS and the staff of SNS and HFIR. Students will be divided into groups and will do six experiments. Experimental areas include:

• Powder Diffraction
• Small Angle Scattering
• Reflectivity
• Inelastic Scattering
• Quasi-elastic neutron scattering
• Liquids and Amorphous Scattering
• Stress/Strain/Texture
• EXAFS
• Single Crystal Diffraction
• Magnetic Dichroism
• Coherent X-ray Scattering
• X-ray Microprobe

The European XFEL Users' Meeting is an annual opportunity to strengthen the interaction between the European XFEL project and the scientific user community. The scope of this meeting includes:

• Progress and current status of the European XFEL
• Instrument design developments & advances
• Selected science applications
• Current developments in the field of XFEL facilities

Satellite meetings/workshops

Sample Environments for Biology at XFELs: 26th January 2016

From Picoseconds to Femtosecond X-Ray Experiments: 26th January 2016

4th Satellite Workshop on Photon Beam Diagnostics: 28th January 2016

Status and Science at HED instrument and of the HIBEF UC: 28th January 2016

The theme of the meeting will be structure and function of membrane proteins. Focus will be on the practical and theoretical basis of macromolecular crystallization involving synthetic biology, protein complexes, nucleic acids, membrane proteins and convection-free crystallization platforms.

A practical workshop will precede (9th March) the main conference devoted to hands-on instruction on membrane protein crystallization and X-ray data collection.

Various spectroscopic techniques such as infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, XAFS (NEXAFS / XANES), X-ray magnetic circular dichroism and inelastic X-ray Scattering will all be presented and discussed during the meeting. Potentials for further developments in these fields will be greatly welcomed. Ample opportunities for discussion will be available during coffee and lunch breaks and also at the poster session.

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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

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   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.