Suffolk Reporter

After five years of virtual-only gatherings, the annual National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) and Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN) Users’ Meeting returned as a combined on-site/remote event. Most of the 531 registrants, representing 32 countries and 140 institutions, participated in person. Held from May 13-17 at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory, the meeting focused on the continued growth and impact of NSLS-II and CFN, which are DOE Office of Science user facilities at Brookhaven.

The main plenary session took place in Brookhaven’s Berkner Hall on Tuesday, May 14, amid days of science workshops. After a brief welcome by CFN Users Executive Committee (UEC) Chair Laiba Bilal, Brookhaven Lab Director JoAnne Hewett expressed her enthusiasm for the meeting’s on-site format while acknowledging that the COVID-19 pandemic had led to significant improvements in Brookhaven’s remote research capabilities. Hewett emphasized that off-site access to tools and instrumentation and improved data infrastructure have made Brookhaven accessible to a broader population of researchers from various geographies and backgrounds. This development aligns with Brookhaven’s goal to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

Hewett outlined several ways the Laboratory is expanding, including developing a new Science and User Support Center within Discovery Park, adding cutting-edge techniques and tools at CFN, constructing the Electron-Ion Collider particle accelerator, and continuing to build out the NSLS-II facility to its full capacity of beamlines.

“NSLS-II is extremely important to Brookhaven,” she said. “The broad spectrum of science that a light source enables is truly amazing, and our light source is enormously productive.”

Erik Johnson, interim director of NSLS-II, provided an update on the facility's status and ongoing changes within the overall science climate. He noted several "twists and turns" over the past year, including changes in DOE structure and realignment of its science programs. The search for a new NSLS-II director was nearing completion at the time of the Users’ Meeting.

“All of this is happening because we want to best support the mission of NSLS-II,” Johnson said.

Johnson highlighted some research achievements from last year, noting studies published in high-impact journals. He also summarized ongoing developments such as new beamlines under the NSLS-II Experimental Tools II (NEXT-II) project: Coherent Diffraction Imaging (CDI), Soft X-ray Nanoprobe (SXN), NanoARPES/NanoRIXS (ARI), with availability projected by 2027. Looking ahead, NEXT-III will add eight to twelve beamlines over the next decade alongside an NSLS-II upgrade optimizing accelerators and beamlines.

Johnson mentioned that NSLS-II would celebrate its 10-year first-light anniversary with special events later this year.

CFN Director Chuck Black then spoke about renewed collaboration at CFN over the past year.

“In 2023 we chose to do not-lonely work,” he said.

Black updated attendees on CFN's growth in hosting users — 655 in 2023 — along with new instrumentation capabilities like atomic layer etching and rapid thermal processing. He discussed forthcoming projects such as a quantum scanning transmission electron microscope enabling groundbreaking material studies.

Black also described developing a "nanoscience exocortex," an AI team aiding researchers by suggesting techniques or understanding software needs.

“AI is poised to fundamentally change how science is done,” Black said.

Linda Horton from DOE's Basic Energy Sciences office discussed leadership changes within the Office of Science before outlining highlights from fiscal year budgets favorable for BES. She emphasized assessing impacts from CFN and other DOE Nanoscale Science Research Centers (NSRCs).

Horton stated that upgrades considered include NEXT-II/III suites alongside eventual NSLS-II accelerator enhancements following positive evaluations regarding these facilities' contributions toward materials/nanoscience research/training scientists/engineers.

After lunch sessions featured flash talks by Silvana Westbury (lightsources.org director) & Branden Brough(National Nanotechnology Coordination Office director). The Julian Baumert PhD Thesis Award went Juanita Hidalgo(MIT postdoc), presenting her thesis titled “Structure-property relationships in lead halide perovskites for solar cells.”

Other awards included two NSLS-II UEC Community Service Awards given Lead Technician Tom Langdon & Mercy Baez(NSLS-II/Laboratory BioMolecular Structure user administrator).

High school poster session winners were Abigail Lam(West Islip High School), Ryan Deegan(West Islip High School), Parker Barry(Eastport South Manor Junior/Senior High School). Graduate student/postdoc poster awards went Yuxiang Peng(Stony Brook University), Semih Cetindag(Brookhaven National Laboratory), Yichen Gan & Varun Kankanallu(both Stony Brook University).

Following award announcements/coffeebreak came live version popular/funny show hosted Matthew Whitaker(NSLSII UEC Vice Chair)/Denise Yazak(NSLSII/LBMS Science Communicator). Guests included JoAnne Hewett(Brookhaven Lab Director), Qun Shen(NSLSII Deputy Director Science), Dava Keavney(DOE BES program manager Xray Neutron Scattering Facilities). Topics ranged musical instruments Starbucks mugs favorite elements establishing ombudsman need more communication US light sources

Evening concluded lively group nearly hundred attendees/vendors/meeting organizers enjoying banquet dinner/socialization Danford restaurant picturesque Port Jefferson Harbor

Users’ Executive Committees thanked sponsors joint Users’ Meeting