Networking Activities

We will implement four networking activities: (1) European Network of Light Source Communicators; (2) VEDAC – Virtual European Data Analysis Centre for Photon Science; (3) PUSH – Pulsed X-Rays from Hard and soft Sources and (4) Schools in Synchrotron and FEL Science.

Activity (1) “Communicators“ has the objectives to increase communication between facilities and to increase information dissemination about photon science to the external world, whilst keeping abreast of the latest communications technology available. All facilities share common techniques for generating and exploiting photons and they can therefore benefit from common tools and standards when it comes to engaging with external audiences. A key objective of the activity is the development of a shared pool of useful materials available in different languages to facilitate the communication task of all facilities.

In the domain of Shared Computer Capacities, the Activity (2) “VEDAC“: Virtual European Data Analysis Centre for Photon Science proposes a very innovative integrated approach to the crucial problem of data analysis, whose importance is steadily increasing in synchrotron and FEL science. The key objective is the creation of a “Virtual European Data Analysis Centre (VEDAC)” dedicated to photon science. The approach brings together software developers of different facilities to solve the challenging new problems created by the massive production of raw data by the new generations of detectors. These interactions will lead to shared routines for different applications in data analysis that will be applicable by all of the participants of this project.

Activity (3), “PUSH“ - Pulsed X-Rays from Hard and Soft Sources , aims at the creation of a network of professionals dealing with all aspects of ultrafast experiments.with the objective of putting European science into a leading position in the field of imaging dynamical phenomena on timescales down to ~ 1 ps and below. This will enable an optimized exploitation of novel (slicing sources and FELs) and future (2nd generation FELs) sources by focusing on three complementary strategic actions, i.e.

• information exchange on possible experiments addressing the dynamical interplay of lattice, spin and charge degrees of freedom in complex materials, a field of very high interest in current solid state physics and chemistry
• broadening of the user base by educating young scientists in the field of FEL science: this is especially important for a sustainable use of these advances sources
• feedback by the user community to the pulsed x-rays producers (machine physicists): this is of crucial importance for the 2nd generation of FELs by tayloring the new sources to the needs of the users based on the experence gained from the first generation machines.

Activity (4), the support of schools, has a very strong tradition in synchrotron and FEL science. This activity is regularly co-funded to explore and promote new opportunities for cooperation and to train the new generations of users. We decided in the present proposal to better focus this activity: we will no longer co-support general conferences and concentrate instead the resources in the funding of schools with well-defined cooperation objectives. We decided to step up our relation with the Hercules school in light of the remarkable continuous success of this initiative. Our funding level will be increased making this – hopefully in collaboration with the neutron community - our reference education event in Europe. The school contributes to the training of new generations of European users by theoretical lectures and practical work at different facilities. This approach was tested over several years and its effectiveness and success are clearly demonstrated: therefore, it is time for our community to make a stronger long-term commitment.