PROPOSALS FOR BEAMTIME ON THE ESRF Bio-SAXS BEAMLINE ID14-3
User operation on the new Bio-SAXS beamline at ID14-3 at the ESRF (
http://www.esrf.fr/UsersAndScience/Experiments/MX/About_our_beamlines/copy_of_ID14-3
) began in November 2008 with mounting of samples currently performed
manually. Robotic sample loading will be incorporated on the beam-line
in the coming months using a device being constructed in a collaboration
between the EMBL (Grenoble and Hamburg outstations) and the ESRF.
Automated data analysis will be also implemented following the model of
the SAXS facility at X-33, EMBL Hamburg.
Eventually the end-station will be fully automated (sample loading, data
collection, processing and preliminary analysis) and will rapidly
provide users standard data concerning the size (radius of gyration,
maximum dimension and volume) and molecular weight of samples and allow
on-the fly ab-initio shape reconstruction in order to provide feedback
enabling the data collection strategies to be optimized. Future plans
extend to allowing remote access to the new Bio-SAXS facility, based on
the system currently in use on the ESRF's MX end-stations.
Application for beam-time on the new facility will follow a rapid access
model and can be made at ANY time. Those who which to apply (including
members of ESRF MX BAG Groups) should use the mechanism at:
http://www.esrf.fr/UsersAndScience/UserGuide/Applying/ProposalGuidelines/MXnon-BAGproposal
where it must be clearly indicated in the title of the proposal that the
application is for Bio-SAXS beamtime on ID14-3.
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