Expert Commissioning provides MAX IV with an important step between the technical commissioning of new capabilities and their introduction into the general user programme.
Expert Commissioning experiments help MAX IV to test and validate new capabilities under realistic experimental conditions, identify limitations and areas for improvement, optimise experimental procedures and data collection strategies, and establish the performance and reliability of new instrumentation.
As commissioning is an active development phase, the capabilities, performance, workflows, and level of user support available may differ from those offered during regular user operation. Close collaboration between the expert users and MAX IV staff is therefore an important part of Expert Commissioning.
Available at: For 2027a – SINCRYS
Validity: One Cycle
Calls for Expert Commissioning proposals are opened as needed to support the testing and commissioning of new beamlines, endstations, or devices. During these commissioning phases, the full range of MAX IV capabilities and services may not yet be available. Users are therefore advised to take this into consideration when planning their experiments and submitting proposals.
We strongly encourage you to contact the beamline staff before submitting your proposal.
To submit a proposal for Expert Commissioning access you must use the DUO system; please see our Proposal Submission Guide.
You can find more information of ongoing calls on the Call for proposals page.
Calls for Expert Commissioning proposals are opened as needed to support the testing and commissioning of new beamlines, endstations, or devices. During these commissioning phases, the full range of MAX IV capabilities and services may not yet be available. Users are therefore advised to take this into consideration when planning their experiments and submitting proposals.
- As part of being granted beamtime at MAX IV, any results from an experiment at MAX IV that are published must include mandatory acknowledgement. The correct acknowledgement is available on our User policies page.
- Users are granted beamtime through open access in accordance with MAX IV Terms & Conditions.
- No charge for beamtime.
- Users pay for consumables exceeding a predefined amount.
Please see the User Policies Page for full details.
Here is a brief overview of some of the steps an Expert Commissioning proposal goes through after submitted to MAX IV.
- Technical feasibility review
Responsible: Beamline staff
Timeline: Approximately 2 weeks after submission deadline
After the proposal submission deadline, MAX IV beamline staff assess the technical feasibility of the proposed experiment. This includes but is not limited to:
- Verifying that the proposed experiment can be carried out at the beamline.
- Assessing whether the requested amount of shifts is reasonable.
- Highlighting any obvious safety concerns to the Experimental Safety Team (EST) (note: a full safety review is not performed at this stage).
- Internal review
Responsible: MAX IV Science Division
Timeline: Review, meetings and full call result processing takes about six weeks
- Decision
Responsible: MAX IV Management
Timeline: Approximately 1 week
- Based on the internal review, MAX IV Management makes the final beamtime allocation decision. Main Proposers are notified via an automated email through DUO.
- Safety Review
Responsibility: Experimental Safety Team (EST)
After the call process, only the accepted (and reserve-listed, if scheduled) proposals undergo a comprehensive safety review to ensure the planned experiments can be conducted safely at MAX IV. The EST may suggest mitigations if risks are identified.
- Anyone wanting to be on the proposal should create a DUO account. If you are unsure if you have an account or need to update your details, please contact useroffice@maxiv.lu.se.
- It is strongly encouraged that you contact the beamline staff before submitting your proposal.
- Submit your proposal in DUO.
- Use the correct proposal template, and do not exceed the page limitations.
Users are required to submit an Experimental Report no later than three months after an experiment, in accordance with MAX IV Terms & Conditions. If an experimental report is missing at the time of submission of a new proposal there are strict penalties in place.
To read more see our User Policies page & Proposal Submission Guide.