●Updated Information on the J-PARC Operation and User Programs       All maintenance and inspection work during the summer shutdown period was completed as scheduled and we resumed three accelerators operation on September 28. After tuning and testing the accelerators, we have started to deliver proton beams to the Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility (MLF) and then the Neutrino Experimental Facility on October 17. Both user programs have resumed since 9pm on October 18. * Click here to enlarge.       Up to this fall, many users have come to J-PARC and the total number of cumulated users for 4 years is 87,817 (personoday) since the operation started in 2008. Although the operation was stopped for 9 months last year due to the 2011 earthquake the number of users smoothly and quickly got back to the pre-earthquake level after the resumption of the user programs in January 2012. This encourages us very much, because it implies that neutron scattering experiments have been now widely recognized as a useful tool among researchers. ▲to Page Top

●Ceremony for the Completion of a New Neutron Diffraction Device, PLANET, on September 27th       The ceremony to celebrate the completion of the new neutron powder diffractometer, PLANET, at Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility (MLF) was held on September 27. Many of the people, who involved in this joint project by JAEA, Ehime University and The University of Tokyo, were attended. PLANET, which has been installed on BL11, is specifically designed to study the physical properties of materials under extremely high temperature and pressure conditions (up to 2000°C and 20 GPa) such as those found in the earth mantle. Because neutron scattering is particularly useful in studying the distribution of water in a material, PLANET is expected to be a powerful tool for understanding the geochemical cycle of water in the earth mantle. This project was supported by grants to "Prof. Takehiko Yagi (the University of Tokyo and Ehime University: Scientific Research on Innovative Areas) and to Prof. Hiroyuki Kagi (The University of Tokyo: Creative Scientific Research) from MEXT. * Click here to enlarge. ▲to Page Top

●QENS/WINS2012 in Nikko from September 30 to October 4       A joint conference of the 10th International Conference on Quasi-Elastic Neutron Scattering (QENS) and the 5th Workshop on Inelastic Neutron Spectrometers (WINS) was held at a meeting hall in Nikko, Japan from September 30 to October 4, 2012. About 100 researchers including 55 researchers from abroad attended the conference where 5 keynote lectures, 45 invited talks, 14 general talks and 40 posters were given. The presented topics are the results of inelastic neutron scattering studies, for instance, on soft matter, ion conductor, and magnetic materials. Progresses in the development of spectrometers at various neutron experimental facilities, including J-PARC, were also reported. The attendee also actively discussed the future direction of neutron science.       This conference was hosted by J-PARC, CROSS, IMSS, ISSP and Institute for chemical research, Kyoto University. * Click here to enlarge.* Click here to enlarge. ▲to Page Top

●The 4th J-PARC Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility (MLF)       Symposium and the FY2011 Ibaraki-Beamline Progress Meeting were held jointly at National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (KAGAKU MIRAIKAN) in Tokyo, Japan on October 10-11. Approximately 200 participants attended. For two days, the results of experiments at MLF and an updated status of each beamline, including the development of new equipment, were reported. A general assembly meeting of the MLF Users Society was also held and introduced user-activity plans for the FY2012.       This joint meeting promoted mutual understanding and good relationships among involved organizations and user communities. In the last session, they also discussed the future plans to improve the experimental environment and user accessibility.       These meetings were hosted by J-PARC, Ibaraki Prefecture, JAEA, KEK, IMSS and CROSS. * Click here to enlarge.* Click here to enlarge. ▲to Page Top

●Lectures on Studies of Cultural Properties with Synchrotron Radiation and Neutron       Non-distractive analyses are very helpful when people study cultural properties. A special conference on the applications of synchrotron radiation and neutron for studying cultural properties was held in Tokyo on September 28. Six lectures were given. From the J-PARC Center Dr. Kamiyama, a professor of KEK, presented a recent result of studying Jomon pottery with using neutron. At the end of conference the organizers of this conference expressed the importance of further corroborations among the related facilities in this field.       This conference was organized by RIKEN, JASRI/Spring-8, KEK and CROSS.       RIKEN: http://www.riken.go.jp/engn/       JASRI/Spring-8: http://www.jasri.jp/       KEK: http://legacy.kek.jp/intra-e/       CROSS: http://www.cross.or.jp/ * Click here to enlarge.* Click here to enlarge. ▲to Page Top

●J-PARC Staff Members Receive Award!       Four researchers, Drs. Akihiko Machida, Toru Watanuki, Takanori Hattori and Asami Sano, of the Quantum Beam Science Directorate of JAEA have been recognized for their accomplishment in the discovery of new rare earth hydrides through the study with using synchrotron radiation and neutron beams, and received the JAEA Development and Achievement award on October 15. This research was conducted with using BL21 "NOVA" at J-PARC. Two recipients, Drs. Hattori and Sano, are jointly appointed as J-PARC staff and also work for the development and installation of BL11 PLANET at MLF (Please read the article on PLANET of this news.).       For the detail of this research, please visit http://j-parc.jp/en/news/2012/J-PARC_News-e1205.html * Click here to enlarge.* Click here to enlarge. ▲to Page Top