Run 20 Scientific Campaign Proposals

Special call for LCLS Scientific Campaign proposals in the area of ‘Condensed-Phase Chemical Dynamics’

Letters of Interest for new LCLS Scientific Campaigns are solicited in the area of “Condensed-Phase Chemical Dynamics”, for experiments that will start in Run 20 (January 2022 onwards). Further details of the targeted science area for this call are provided below.

Submission of a Scientific Campaign proposal requires advanced submission approval from the LCLS Director - based on a brief Letter Of Interest (LOI).

LOIs are to be submitted before 4pm (Pacific Time) on Friday, May 28 2021.

Submit Letter Of Interest

LCLS Scientific Campaigns are an augmentation of the Regular Proposal process to support more extensive research programs, requiring a series of beamtimes over multiple years, and targeting specific areas where there is great potential for scientific impact from the unique capabilities of LCLS. Scientific campaigns are expected to be proposed and conducted by a comprehensive research team of experts (e.g. synthesis, experiment, theory, etc.). The scientific scope, level of ambition and impact of the proposed research must be well above that of a Regular Proposal.

Note that only a small number of campaign proposals will be able to be accepted, consistent with ~10% of the available beamtime for the collective sum of all ongoing campaigns.

Proposals that are not awarded beamtime as a multi-year “campaign” will be automatically considered by the Proposal Review Panel for allocation of a single beamtime in Run 20. For further details regarding Scientific Campaign proposals and review criteria, please see the updated proposal preparation guidelines and proposal review process.

LCLS Partnership and Contact Information

Close partnership with the LCLS facility, as evidenced by strong involvement of LCLS/SLAC staff, is required for successful Scientific Campaign proposals. Early and substantive discussions with LCLS/SLAC staff are strongly encouraged (already at the LOI stage). These discussions will also serve to identify potential needs for other SLAC facilities (e.g. time-resolved beamlines at SSRL) and help to develop a coordinated plan. For this call, the primary point of contact for initial discussion is LCLS Science Deputy Robert Schoenlein (rwschoen@slac.stanford.edu)

Scientific Campaign Target Area

This call for Scientific Campaigns is targeting areas of condensed-phase chemistry where unique LCLS capabilities and expertise will lead to significant science impact. Successful proposals need to be comprehensive research programs that will deliver a qualitative advance in the field, and not just a series of experiments that could be accomplished through Regular Proposals.

Motivation & Example Science Opportunities (not exclusive):

• Advancing our understanding of chemical processes and dynamics beyond model complexes, e.g. light harvesting complexes, photo-catalytic assemblies, interfacial chemical dynamics, bio- and environmental-chemistry, etc.
• Understanding and controlling excited-state dynamics in relevant molecular complexes
• Understanding coupled electronic and molecular dynamics, including the role of the local environment
• Mapping frontier orbitals (bonding, oxidation) through entire catalytic cycles - operando
• Additional suggestions of priority research opportunities can be found in the following:
  • BES Basic Research Needs and Roundtable Reports:
    https://science.osti.gov/bes/Community-Resources/Reports
  • Energy Frontier Research Centers:
    https://science.osti.gov/bes/efrc/Centers
  • Energy Innovation Hubs:
    https://www.energy.gov/science-innovation/innovation/hubs
• Additional Guidance:
  • Successful proposals must describe a comprehensive research program, identifying all elements necessary to maximize the science impact, e.g. including experiment, data analysis, sample synthesis, theory, or other essential complementary studies.
  • A clear case must be made for both the scientific significance of an integrated series of LCLS experiments, and that the information is inaccessible by other means.
  • Advances on a chemical system/problem of broad importance to the field that will be enabled by a suite of new LCLS capabilities spanning soft, tender, and hard X-rays will be considered. This may include: ChemRIXS, XPP, XCS, MFX, or other instruments; multi-modal and other advanced experimental methods; novel sample delivery; targeted stimuli; novel X-ray pulse formats; advanced data analytics, etc.
  • Note that co-development of new capabilities can be a compelling aspect of a Scientific Campaign, but the focus of the proposed research should not be on method development or demonstration experiments, but rather on answering significant science questions as recognized by the broader chemistry community.

Scientific campaigns that combine the use of LCLS with other facilities or complementary methods are welcomed. Coordination with other SLAC facilities may be facilitated at the LOI stage through discussion with LCLS leadership and scientific staff.

Letters Of Interest Format

The Letter of Interest (2-page max., in pdf format) should follow the provided template and include a high-level description of the following:

1. Science motivation - impact of proposed program must be significant (and widely recognizable) with high chance of success.
   Will the proposed sequence of experiments result in a qualitative advance on an important science challenge?
2. Clear justification for a series of beamtimes with well-defined scope and objectives. Outline the milestones to be accomplished in each beamtime, and how this advances the larger goal of the Scientific Campaign.
   What scientific advance will be accomplished, how, by whom, and over what period of time?
   Could this be accomplished through a Regular Proposal or Rapid Access Proposal?
3. Outline the unique capabilities and expertise of LCLS that are required, including close partnership with the LCLS facility as evidenced by strong involvement of LCLS/SLAC staff. Outline other essential needs for a successful Scientific Campaign, and how these needs will be met (e.g. other facilities, personnel, expertise, resources, etc.)
   Why is LCLS essential for the proposed Scientific Campaign?
   Why is this in the strategic interest (scientific and/or technical) of LCLS?
   Who will be the main LCLS (or SLAC) staff contributing to this effort?
   Are all the other essential elements for success identified and arranged?

One additional page of references may be included, in addition to the 2-page letter of interest.

Campaign Proposal Format

The Campaign Proposal document (8-page max., in pdf format) should follow the provided template and be submitted via the User Portal. Submission of a Scientific Campaign proposal requires advanced submission approval from the LCLS Director.

Timeline for Scientific Campaign submissions starting in Run 20

Note: The call for Regular User Proposals was issued on May 20, 2021, with a deadline for submissions of July 19, 2021.

Run 20 experiments will be scheduled from January 2022 through June 2022.