Sept 19, 2006

JASRI International Advisory Council(JIAC 2006)

Report of the Council
Meeting held on July 3-5, 2006
in
Himeji, JapanExecutive Summary
In the following are described our observations, conclusions from those and,based on those, the recommendations of the JASRI International Advisory
Committee, briefly called JIAC in the text. These were presented in theclosing session by the Chairman to the management of JASRI and Riken
Harima having been unanimously agreed by the committee.
1. Science and Technology•

JIAC found that the overall quality of science and technology presented
was very high and comparable with the best at other leading
synchrotron radiation (SR) facilities in the world.
Research highlights include structural biology, materials science andnanotechnology, investigation of systems under extreme conditions,and the development of new imaging techniques.
High resolution structural studies on integral membrane proteins andlarge protein-protein complexes have enabled unique observations ofpractical importance for drug discovery and design, of profoundimportance for an understanding of basic biological functions.
In an exciting advance in materials science, the mechanism of an“intelligent” catalyst has been elucidated. This perovskite-structurematerial, La(FeCoPd)O3 has a very long duration against aging in
automobile engine exhausts and is now in actual use with very wide
market potential. This remarkable research connects basic science toreal applications.
By exploiting a special variant of X-ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism(XMCD), researchers at SPring-8 have discovered that gold
nanoparticles develop a magnetic moment. This could lead to
revolutionary applications for spintronic devices.
Science at the extremes of temperature and pressure is a speciality ofSPring-8. X-ray diffraction under ultra high pressure using a diamondanvil cell resulted in the discovery of a post-perovskite phase transition(at 120 GPa) of MgSiO3. This work, in which the conditions deep within
the earth at the core-mantle interface were reproduced, has had amajor impact in the earth sciences.
The Kirkpatrick-Baez high energy microprobe was used for
fluorescence mapping of the cadmium distribution in hyperaccumulating plants. Comparison of the micro-XANES spectra fromthe Cd-rich regions with model compounds provided important
information on the chemistry of Cd binding in the plant.
These advances and many others have established SPring-8 firmly at
the forefront of world science.
- 2 -2. Management and Operation•

JIAC observes very significant improvements at SPring-8 over the past
6 years since the last review in 2000. Most of the recommendations ofthat panel have been implemented; this is reflected in a very strong
increase in the number of papers in general, as well as those in highimpact journals. The administrative structure has also been simplified
and a very good level of cooperation has been achieved between
RIKEN and JASRI to the benefit of the entire SPring-8 operation. In
addition an intense dialogue has been started with industrial
companies, which has lead to a strong and unequalled level ofindustrial activity at SPring-8. The committee particularly notes theremarkable breadth of industrial engagement, stretching well beyond
the macromolecular investigations which dominate at other SR centers.
The Committee wishes to congratulate SPring-8 on this success.

•

JASRI has become responsible for all operation (accelerator complex
and beamlines). RIKEN has also delegated the responsibility forbuilding new public beamlines and for the refurbishment of operating
public beamlines to JASRI. After the withdrawal of JAERI from the
management of SPring-8, a strong and efficient cooperation between
JASRI and RIKEN is mandatory for the success of SPring-8. The
committee recommends strongly that this arrangement be maintainedand encourages RIKEN to implement a robust and transparent review
and audit process to oversee the SPring-8 operation and development.
The committee has been pleased to notice that the current
arrangement has included a transfer of funds to JASRI, either fromRIKEN or directly from government, to ensure that JASRI can fulfill its
responsibilities.

•

To ensure that SPring-8 will continue to flourish as a leading state-ofthe-art SR facility, under the new model of governance, the committee
considers it essential that a single entity should remain responsible forthe full operation of SPring-8. This accords with experience at allother major SR sources where a single operating authority, responsible
for operation, maintenance, user programme and scientific strategy,
has led to successful, efficient and effective management. The
effective scheduling of scientifically highly rated proposals needs to rely
on a detailed knowledge of the beamlines and their scientificprogrammes and capabilities. Conversely, the technical developmentof the beamlines requires a profound understanding of crucial scientificneeds.

3. Budget, Staffing and In-house Research•

JIAC notes with concern the substantial reduction in the operating
budget.
JIAC notes JASRI’s successful efforts in obtaining
compensatory funds by the introduction of targeted national
programme funding. Nevertheless, the budget position of SPring-8 is- 3 -becoming increasingly complicated, and is inherently unstable. A
rolling medium term (5 year) financial plan should be considered toensure the most effective use of the facility.
•

JIAC notes enthusiastically the significant increase in industrial activity,
distributed across the beamlines including those dedicated to industrial
science. JIAC suggests that industrial income should be employed toenhance the service to industrial users and the scientific infrastructure.
This would act as an incentive to JASRI and to Japanese industry to
deepen their involvement in the exploitation of SPring-8.

•

JIAC notes that SPring-8 operates with less staff than othercomparable facilities, especially where the beamlines are concerned.
JIAC advises that JASRI consider a flexible approach to the staffing,
giving scientific activities and service to the user community the highest
priority.

•

If SPring-8 is to fulfill its mission by remaining competitive
internationally and attractive to leading scientific staff, in-houseresearch must be supported. JASRI staff should be encouraged todevelop strong scientific programmes, on their own or in collaboration
with external users. In order to properly bench-mark the quality of inhouse research, competitive participation of in-house staff proposals in
the peer review process for the allocation of beamtime is mandatory.

4. Accelerator Complex•

JIAC notes that the quality of the whole accelerator complex has
reached a very high level comparable with other leading international
facilities. Top-up, stability, reliability, ultra-small emittance reflect aconstant improvement of a superbly running machine. Careful
evaluation of any proposed future machine development is required tomaintain the high quality and the current level of user beamtime.

•

JIAC recommends that, to fully exploit the potential of SPring-8, every
effort be made to increase the total number of operating hours of theaccelerator complex, with the goal of achieving at least 5500 hours per
year, as at other comparable SR facilities.

5. Beamlines and Instruments••

JIAC recommends that all public beamlines be involved in theprioritised beam-time allocation procedure and that the International
Advisory Committee carry out an in-depth review and analysis of the
beamtime allocation procedures, on all beamlines, at SPring-8.
JIAC further notes that over-subscription factors vary widely across thecurrent beamline portfolio. These factors should be taken into
account when beamline upgrades, or new beamline construction, is
proposed.

- 4 -

•

JIAC is impressed by the large number and high technical quality of thebeamlines operating at SPring-8. JIAC supports JASRI’s wish tofurther improve service to the users by increasing the number of JASRI
staff directly working on the beamlines. JIAC observes that atcomparable facilities a “standard” beamline will have typically 2scientists, plus 2 postdoctoral scientists, plus a technician, as support
staff.

•

Where new beamlines are concerned, JIAC feels that the primary
impetus should come from the external scientific user community.
New beamlines should only be built if adequate staffing and financial
resources are available for the future operation of the beamline.

•

JIAC observes that for the non-public beamlines, only a relatively small
fraction of the beamtime is available for the general user.

•

SPring-8 has a strong tradition of instrument development, withsignificant potential for commercialisation; other facilities benefit fromdevelopments at SPring-8. JIAC notes the particular strength in X-ray
optics (monochromators, mirrors, focusing optics, etc), insertion
devices (in-vacuum undulators, cryogenic insertion devices, etc) androbotics for PX/MX applications. JIAC believes that these efforts must
be continued, at least at current levels, where appropriate incollaboration with other SR facilities and with industry.

6. Further Observations and Comments•

JIAC observes that experience at other facilities has shown that theimplementation of a fixed user fee (per shift, to cover consumables) for
non-proprietary research acts as a disincentive to optimal use of the
facility.

•

JIAC considers that the training of young scientists and thecollaboration with universities and industry are important activities at
central research facilities and notes the strong implication of SPring-8
in these activities.

•

JIAC was very impressed by the progress with the prototype SCSS Xray FEL. The success of the joint construction of SPring-8 by JAERI,
RIKEN and JASRI leads JIAC to suggest a similiar approach to theconstruction and operation of SCSS as a joint effort of RIKEN and
JASRI.

•

IAC suggests that an International Advisory Committee be establishedwhich should meet regularly. Further, JIAC considers it appropriate that
other advisory committees (for example, on technical matters) meet as
needed.

- 5 -•JIAC welcomes the efforts and support of the SPring-8 Users’ Society
and the Industrial Users’ Society of SPring-8 towards the success ofthe facility.

•

The members of JIAC wish to thank most enthusiastically the staff ofSPring-8 for their excellent support in advance of and during thisReview Committee meeting.

- 6 -1. Science and Technology

Experiments related to life science research take place at about one third of
the 48 beamlines at Spring-8. The beamlines are distributed evenly between
bending magnets and insertion devices. At least three of these are contract
beamlines like the one operated by the pharmaceutical industry (BL32B2).
Life science activities at these beamlines comprise structural biology (PX),
small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), trace element analysis and medical
imaging.
Of the eight beamlines dedicated to structural biology (genomics) studies
only two, BL41XU and BL38B1 are under the full responsibility of JASRI; theremaining are Riken beamlines. Data measured at the structural biology
beamlines have been the basis for the determination of an impressive numberof high profile protein structures, among them several membrane proteins.
The beamlines at SPring-8 play also an instrumental role for the success of
the Protein 3000 project. The aim of this five year project started by RIKEN
in 2002 was the determination of 3000 protein structures. All the major
protein crystallographic groups in Japan have contributed to Protein 3000.
With 2838 structures determined half a year before the end to the project, it
seems clear that the ambitious goal will be achieved. Of course many of thosestructures have not required access to the SPring-8 facilities, having been
completed as part of the NMR-focussed efforts at RIKEN-Yokohama.
Nevertheless, in the future JIAC anticipates that a greater proportion of theprotein structures determined in the successor program will be done by
crystallographic approaches. This implies an expanding need for access tostate-of-the-art synchrotrom beamline facilities; particularly as larger, more
complex systems are addressed. SPring-8 should be in an excellent position
to commission and sustain such additional resources and capitalise on its
proven expertise in supporting the Structural Biology community.
The Protein 3000 project has stimulated the developments of HighThroughput methods at the structural biology beamlines. In this the group is
distinguishing between more routine experiments that should be made easierto perform and special experiments on microcrystals and crystals with large
volume unit cells, which should be made possible. In both cases the future
development of the PX beamlines will require standardisation and joint
administration as proposed in the plans presented to JIAC. JIAC strongly
supports this development.
The participants of Protein 3000 have planned the succession of the project,
Post-Protein 3000 to start in 2007. This project will target even more difficult
structures like membrane proteins and macromolecular complexes which bothoffer challenges in crystallisation and data collection. To deal with the more
complex structures the Post-Protein 3000 project contains an instrumentation
component that includes construction of a microfocus beamline. JIAC is
supportive of the idea that the portfolio of PX beamlines at SPring-8 isdeveloped to have a microfocus beamline.

- 7 -Three of the life science beamlines are dedicated to Small Angle X-ray
Scattering (SAXS). They comprise one bending magnet beamline and two
undulator beamlines. The biological studies at the high flux undulator
beamlines provide for trace element analyses and for time resolved studies ofmembranes. JIAC recommends that these activities should be continued atleast at the present level.
Two beamlines are dedicated to medical imaging (BL20XU, BL20B2). The
bending magnet beamline is used for microtomography and refraction
enhanced imaging. Imaging experiments have been performed on rabbits andmice. However, the BL20XU beamline is now being used for special optics
experiments.
The Material Science group of JASRI consists of 32 staff and is in charge of
21 out of 25 public beamlines. The group has developed impressive research
activities which cover a broad range of applications and make good use of thehigh energy photons with high brilliance and with a very high degree of beamstability from Spring-8. Some group members are involved in the
Nanotechnology Support Project. It is difficult to separate the organization andbudget between these projects. Areas of research include crystallography andelectron charge density measurements, electron spectroscopy, magnetic
scattering, inelastic scattering, and elemental and chemical state analysis.
Many research projects are the result of collaborations between JASRI staff
and outside scientists. This mode of joint operation to pursue science in a
motivated group under a strong leadership could well be an excellent modelfor the rest of JASRI.
Highlights of these research activities include;¾ Powder X-ray diffraction found, with the help of maximum entropy
analysis, a strong change of electron density distribution between
paramagnetic and antiferromagnetic states in NdSrMnO7; observationof chemical bonding of hydrogen in MgH2; unexpected spatial
ordering of various molecules such as O2, N2, CO2, CH4, C2H2 incoordination polymers with pillared layer structure, [Cu2(pzdc)2(pyz)]n.
¾ Structural analysis by X-ray diffraction under ultra high pressure by theuse of a diamond anvil cell resulted in the discovery of a postperovskite phase transition of MgSiO2 at 120GPa. This was done
under core-mantle conditions and has had a major impact in earthscience.
¾ High sensitivity XMCD spectroscopy discovered a ferromagnetic
polarization of Au nanoparticles.
¾ X-ray magnetic diffraction experiments revealed the existence ofreverse spin polarization at the inner interface in SrRuO3/SrTiO3 films.
The research activity of this group is highly visible, and the present mode ofoperation is recommended as a model for public user beamlines. We believethat the research activity of this important group in JASRI would even be more

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impressive if priority were given to research projects based on successful
collaborations between JASRI and RIKEN at both Harima and Wako.
The Synchrotron Radiation Centre of JAEA at SPring-8 has 4 beamlines
which have specialized in inelastic scattering, with 51 staff members divided
into 8 groups. They carry out both extensive and intensive studies on
dynamics of processes in electronic excitations, chemical reactions, andcrystal growth. The choice of important subjects has produced verystimulating scientific results which are visible worldwide.
Highlights include;¾ RIXS studies on electronic excitations in hole- and electron-doped hightemperature copper oxide superconductors revealed characteristicfeatures of carrier doped Mott insulators.
¾ IXS studies on phonon softening in hole-doped La2-xSrxCuO4 and Bdoped diamonds revealed the coupling between electrons and aparticular phonon mode.
¾ ARPES studies studying the 5f levels of UPd2AL3 showed a strong
dependence on temperature.
¾ Nuclear resonant X-ray scattering identified two different Fe sites inmagnetites. This finding is expected to shed new light on the classicalcontroversy about the existence of charge ordering of Fe-B sites.
¾ The identification of the mechanism of the intelligent catalyst with aperovskite structure, La(FeCoPd)O3, is very noteworthy. This material
survives actively a very long time in the engine exhaust system and is
now in actual use. It has a possible wide market. This is one of themost remarkable examples of research activities bridging basic scienceand real application, which SPring-8 can be proud to have achieved.
The research activity of this group is very visible and the present mode ofoperation is recommended to continue. This group could even play a morestrategically important role if it was encouraged to choose research subjects
based on collaborations within JAEA.
Since the withdrawal of JAERI from the management of SPring-8 in
September 2005, RIKEN has been the sole owner of the facilities on the
Spring-8 campus. Thus, the RIKEN Harima Institute has assumed a criticalresponsibility for the management of the SPring-8 facility. At the same timethey have founded a new research center, “Riken SPring-8 Center” (RSC), in
order to promote their own research activities and to concentrate their efforts
to SR sciences and also the construction of the XFEL. The Center consists ofthree research groups so far, dealing with life sciences, materials science,and SR science and technology. In addition, they have set up a fourth groupfor XFEL research and construction, in April 2006. RSC keeps 7 beamlines fortheir own uses; 4 BLs (2 undulators and 2 bending magnets) for life science
including 3 BLs for protein crystallography, and 2 BLs for coherent x-ray
optics and 1 for soft x-rays.

- 9 -RIKEN has been the leading institute for structural biology in Japan, and has
been pursuing the initiative in the national project of Protein 3000 (2001-2006),
by using these RIKEN protein cystallography BLs as well as the public BLs.
Through these national projects SPring-8 has assumed a crucial role in the
recent impressive progress of protein crystallography in Japan.
Recent scientific highlights include:¾ The mechanism of bioluminescence in the Japanese firefly was
elucidated by the 3D structural analysis of “luciferase”. The finding thatthe mutation of the key amino-acid controls the color will open the way to
a new imaging technology.
¾ The indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenases, which was discovered by a Japanesescientist 50 years ago, is known to catalyze the reaction of oxygen
incorporation into tryptophan. The structure of the enzyme wasdetermined, revealing the detailed mechanism.
The coherent x-ray group of RSC has so far been developing state-of-the art
SR technology. Recent progress includes the development of the 3D imaging
technique by using the over-sampling diffraction method and highly-coherent
x-rays at the 1 km long BL. These are most challenging experiments at a third
generation SR source. They also succeeded in building a 25-nanometer x-ray
Kirkpatrick-Baez mirror system, which can be used for many types of
microscopies.
One of recent developments in SR technique is the hard x-ray PES techniquefor biomaterials in liquids. JIAC is convinced that the HXPES is a very
promising and important SR technique in materials science andnanotechnology.
The XFEL project in Japan had originally been significantly behind the
projects in Europe and US. However, very recently, the XFEL group, which isorganized by RSC and JASRI, has succeeded in lasing VUV light using theprototype machine. They have used unique ideas and devices developed at
SPring-8. These innovations include a low emittance electron gun, a high gain
C-band accelerator, and an in-vacuum micro-undulator. JIAC congratulates
the team on the government’s approval, in FY 2006, of the 8-GeV XFEL
project. This started as a five-year project. If the project proceeds according
to schedule, it will catch up with the TESLA and LCLS projects.
Although these activities are not within the scope of the JIAC evaluation, it
should be emphasized that the Riken Institute plays an important role in theactivities of Spring-8.
JIAC is convinced that future Nanotechnology will be enabled by enhancing
fundamental research in the critical areas of nano-materials synthesis, nanomaterials analysis and nanomaterials modelling. A detailed knowledge of thechemical, electronic and magnetic structure of nanomaterials is a prerequisite
for the “tailoring” of their functions in a controlled way. Modern 3rd generationsynchrotron radiation facilities such as SPring-8 carry the potential to meet

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future analytical challenges for the development of new nanomaterials and forthe advancement of nanotechnology. The Nanotechnology Support System
of SPring-8 comprises Technical Support (Transmission-Electron Microscopy,
Synchrotron Radiation Technology and Molecular Synthesis Technology) as
well as Information Support (Information Exchange Platform on the Web,
Organization of Workshops, Technology Transfer). The partners of theSPring-8 Nanotechnology Support System are JASRI, NIMS and JAEA.
This support system was founded in 2002 as a five year project to develop
nanoscience and nanotechnology.
The supporting themes are 9 subjects performed at 7 undulator beamlines.
Staff involved in this project are divided into two teams; spectroscopies andstructure analysis. The former consists of 4 postdocs, 4 beamline scientists,
and the latter of 2 postdocs and 3 beamline scientists. The roles of thesestaffs are (a) to support the planning of experiments, (b) technical support,and (c) advice on experimental data analysis.
JIAC is convinced that these efforts must increase to involve users who are
not familiar with SR, but have prepared unique nanomaterials.
This nanotechnology project also develops new fields of SR research. The
highlights of the experiments are;
¾ Direct observation of ferromagnetic spin polarization in gold
nanoparticles.
¾ Direct observation of 1D array of O2 molecules in a polymer network
by MEM analysis.
¾ Electronic and chemical state analysis of high gate insulator HfO2
studied by high-energy PES.
¾
Within this project, JASRI has installed state-of-the-art equipment, such as
micro-CT, micro-MCD, hard-x-ray PEEM and micro-diffraction.
JIAC congratulates the SPring-8 management for implementation of thisinnovative nanotechnology platform which exploits the high analytical potentialof Spring-8 for the development of new nanomaterials and the advancementof nanotechnology and very strongly encourages the management to continue
these efforts.
JIAC also recommends to carefully analyzing which research projects andwhich x-ray technology should be integrated into this SPring-8
nanotechnology platform.

2. Management and Operation

As the SAC pointed out in its review in 2000, despite a very successful
construction period, the management structure of SPring-8 during theoperational phase had become too complicated. The withdrawal of JAERI in
September 2005 promised to reduce the complexity somewhat. The recent- 11 -

amendment of the Promotion Law, however, seems to direct the managementof such an advanced scientific facility again in the wrong direction. JIAC is notin a position to review the on-going innovation of Japanese management
systems. However, as far as SPring-8 is concerned, the separation of the
management of SPring-8 into two parts, the owner (RIKEN) and theregistered institution (JASRI), will be very demanding on both parties,
increasing the likelihood of inefficiency, and could negatively impact thescientific success of SPring-8. SPring-8 is not a common public service facility
but one of the most advanced scientific facilities operating at a worldwide level.
Although the operation has to satisfy the large number of public customers, it
should not be forgotten that this huge investment was made to produce
science of the world’s highest quality. This goal has now been achieved.
Unless the Government or the academic community of Japan decides tosacrifice this high quality, it is the function and duty of SPring-8 to explore thefrontier of synchrotron radiation sciences.
The best solution will be to leave both management and operational
responsibility to JASRI on the presumption of tight cooperation with and strict
control by RIKEN, as both institutes are now attempting. Although theamended law formally divides the business of SPring-8 into two parts, it
should intrinsically be fully unified.
The industrial application at SPring-8 is one of the most successful in theworld. Until now, JASRI has improved the system so that untrained proposal
holders could use the beamlines, assisted by the Government’s policies, theTrial Use and Promotion Program. As a result, the number of the industrial
users increased substantially. So far, efforts were concentrated on theincrease in the number of industrial users. Quality has not been discussed
enough. For this discussion it is necessary that both the industrial users and
JASRI consider the targets of utilization of SPring-8 by industry.
The leadership of JASRI is important for the effective utilization of SPring-8,
as the Government Interim Report pointed out. The three major national
projects now being carried out at SPring-8 were introduced by JASRI. The
amended law separates JASRI’s beam time from public beamtime in order tosecure the fairness of beam-time allocation. This fairness could be assured inother ways, e.g. through the proposal review process.

3. Budget, Staffing and In-house Research
JASRI has encountered a substantial reduction in the operating budget fromabout 11BYen in FY2000 to 6.5BYen in FY2005. To obtain compensatory
funds JASRI has successfully made a great effort for the introduction oftargeted national programme funding from MEXT. However, the budget
position of SPring-8 is becoming increasingly complicated and is inherently
unstable. This is not an effective way to operate a national facility for
science and technology and JIAC strongly recommends that a rolling medium
term (5 year) financial plan should be considered to ensure the most effective
use of the facility.

- 12 -

At such an advanced large facility as SPring-8 a reasonable minimum numberof beamline (BL) staff would be 2 scientists, 2 postdocs and 1 engineer per BL.
This is the internationally recognized minimum standard. At SPring-8 where
the Research and Utilization Division is responsible for supporting users,
there is a clearly visible lack of staff for the 25 public BLs.
If these new positions are not supported, JIAC recommends that JASRI
should make an effort to shift manpower from other Divisions or Groups suchas the Beamline and Administrative Divisions.
The scientific and technological activities at SPring-8 have received wide
recognition and have placed SPring-8 in a leading position in many research
fields. Such an activity has been strongly supported and enhanced by JASRI
members of staff who have maintained their own high level research activity.
If SPring-8 is to fulfill its mission to remain competitive internationally and to
attract leading scientific staff, in-house research must be supported. JASRI
staff should be encouraged to develop strong scientific programs, either on
their own or in collaboration with external users.
JIAC recommends that to properly bench-mark the quality of in-houseresearch, competitive participation of in-house staff proposals in the peer
review process for the allocation of beamtime is essential.

4. Accelerator Complex
The Spring8 accelerator complex consists of the 1GeV linac, the booster
synchrotron, the storage ring, and the low energy ring, New Subaru. It is asuperb facility by international standards. It is the largest such facility in theworld in physical size and the storage ring, operating at 8 GeV is the highest
energy source dedicated to providing synchrotron radiation in the world.
The Accelerator Division deserves a great deal of credit for the excellent jobof continually improving and upgrading the complex. It now operates in an
extremely stable and reliable fashion, with low emittance, and in top-up mode.
In addition to the more usual aspects of the lattice, the ring features four 30m
long straight sections (the longest in the world), providing extremely bright,
high flux beams. Bunch distributions are flexible, and a variety of different
patterns are scheduled on a regular basis. When large gaps are used
between filled buckets for timing experiments, the cleanliness of the empty
buckets is rated at an impressive 10-9 relative to the filled ones.
Operating at 8GeV has significant costs in terms of a large electricity bill, but it
provides easy access to very high energy X-rays. The copious radiation
produced will also lead to radiation damage to accelerator components in time.
This, the inevitable obsolescence of control electronics, software and theageing of power supplies and other equipment will require careful planningand budgeting for timely maintenance and replacement of the affectedcomponents.

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The size of the staff operating the complex on a routine basis (a team leader
and 4 operators around the clock) appears generous, relative to similar
facilities elsewhere.

5. Beamlines and Instruments

The Beamline Division is made up of the following five groups: Insertion
Device and Front End Group; Optics and Transport Channel Group; Control
Group; Instrumentation Development Group; and Technical Support Group.
The Division is responsible for the construction and the upgrade of beamlines,
and much of the infrastructure beyond the accelerator systems. Overall, thetechnical quality of the SPring-8 beamlines is remarkably high.
The Division’s activities have gained worldwide acclaim in several areas:¾ The SPring-8 insertion device team has a tradition of designing andconstructing custom-built undulators for particular beamlines andscientific applications. This is evident from the wide range of insertion
devices placed around the storage ring, including revolver devices.
¾ The team has been in the forefront in the development of in-vacuum
undulators from the outset. This technology has been adopted innumerous laboratories overseas, and is also critical for the success of
the SPring-8 XFEL project.
¾ The group’s contributions to cryogenic permanent magnet undulator
development have also attracted wide attention.
¾ The development of ultra precisely figured mirrors has led toimpressive advances in hard X-ray nanofocusing¾ Work on beryllium windows has led to important advances incoherence preservation on X-ray beamlines¾ The PILATUS detector, under development jointly with the Swiss Light
Source (PSI), is attracting wide interest internationally.
¾ Robotics yields dramatic gains in throughput on PX/MX beamlines
JIAC believes that the strong tradition in instrumentation development must
be continued, at least at current levels, where appropriate in collaboration withother SR facilities and industries.
Industrial application has been a strong concern of industry and government.
It was also taken into account as one of the important roles of Spring-8 from- 14 -

the planning stage. Industrial applications were initially promoted by ‘hardindustry’ companies such as electric, electronic, material and automobile
companies and they invested in the basic funding for JASRI. Thirteencompanies jointly constructed two contract beam lines. Pharmaceuticalcompanies came later and 22 companies jointly constructed a contract beam
line.
JASRI has been making efforts to increase the number of industrial
applications in various fields. The group to support industrial application wasformed in April 2001, promoting programs were also set up in 2001 andindustry user evaluation has been introduced. The number of industrial users
has increased significantly in these five years and most of the users seem tobe satisfied by the programs for industrial applications.
Highlights are:
¾ Enhancement of the support organization for industrial use;
The Industrial Application/Utilization Support Group started in 2001,
was reorganized in 2003 and the Industrial Application Division wasestablished in 2005.
¾ Increase in the number of industrial users and application fields;
The number of people and companies using Spring-8 has increased bymore than a factor of two in five years. The number and percentage ofindustrial research proposals have also increased, by around three andtwo, respectively.
¾ Fruitful industrial research results;
Research has been carried out in the fields of electronics, metals andsoft materials, automobile, energy and environment, material analysis
and life sciences. Many important findings from the industrial point ofview are being applied in industry.
JIAC’s recommendation is to enhance the support for the non-specialist users
since many industrial users, specialist in their own fields, are not able to makeSR measurements or data analysis. JIAC is impressed by the large number
and high technical quality of the beam lines operating at SPring-8. It seems
very important to improve services to the users further by increasing thenumber of JASRI staff directly working on the beam lines. JIAC observes
that at comparable facilities a “standard” beam line will have typically 2scientists, plus 2 postdoctoral scientists, plus a technician/engineer as support
staff.
JIAC notes enthusiastically the significant increase in industrial activity,
distributed across the beam lines including those dedicated to industrial
science. JIAC suggests that industrial income should be employed toenhance the service to industrial users and the scientific infrastructure. This
would act as an incentive to JASRI and to Japanese industry to deepen theirinvolvement in the exploitation of SPring-8.
JIAC found that the Industrial Application Division covers the research
fields of electronics, metals, soft materials, environment, but not life sciences
which has been the responsibility of the Riken Institute. This might arise forhistorical reasons, but industrial use which combines nanotechnology with- 15 -

bioscience will certainly become more and more important. JIAC recommends
the organization of a unified support system in the future.
6. Further Observations and Comments
Overall, the committee is very impressed by the performance of SPring-8.
However, due to budget problems, the facility is not operated at its optimum
level. In addition, JIAC believes that JASRI should be given the authority andresponsibility for all aspects of the operation and development of SPring-8.
Finally, JIAC wishes to congratulate the JASRI management and the staff ofSPring-8 for their excellent work during the years since the last review.
Further JIAC thanks the staff of JASRI for the excellent support in advance ofand during this Review Committee meeting.

This report is transmitted to the JASRI management on behalf of the JASRIInternational Advisory Council
Prof Gerhard Materlik, Chairman
September 19, 2006

Attachments A)-C):A) JIAC 2006 Member List
Prof Gerhard Materlik, CEO, Diamond Light Source, UK (Chair)
Prof Hidetoshi Fukuyana, Tokyo University of Science, Japan (Co-Chair)
Prof William G. Stirling, Director General, ESRF, FranceProf J. Murray Gibson, Associated Laboratory Director, ANL, APS , USA
Prof Helmut Dosch, Director, Max-Planck Institute fur Metallforschung, Germany
Prof Janos Kirz, Acting Director, Advanced Light Source, USA
Prof Sine Larsen, Director of Research, ESRF, France- 16 -

Dr Drake S. Egglestone, Vice President, Computational, Analytical and Structural
Science, GlaxoSmithKline, USA
Prof Toshiaki Ohta, Ritsumeikan University, JapanDr Yasuhiko Fujii, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Japan
Dr Mutsuhiro Arinobu, Executive Director, Toshiba Corporation, JapanB) JIAC Agenda
July 3-5, 2006
July 2nd (Sunday)
Hotel Nikko, Himeji

Sunday July 3
18:00

Welcome Dinner (Buffet)
Hosted by Dr. Akira Kira(at Hotel Nikko Himeji)

20:00

Brief Meeting (Closed)

July 3rd (Monday)

Monday July 4
9:00
9:05
9:10
9:40
10:10

Welcome Address (Dr. Akira Kira)
Opening Remarks (Prof. G. Materlik)
Concerns and Issues (Dr. Akira Kira)
User Support System (Dr. Hideo Ohno)
Discussions (Closed)

10:40

Coffee Break

11:00
11:30
12:00
12:30
14:00
14:30

Nanotechnology Support Project (Dr. Shigeru Kimura)Protein 3000 Project (Dr. Masaki Yamamoto)Discussions
Lunch ( at Restaurant Serena, ground floor, Hotel Nikko Himeji)
Materials Science (Dr. Masaki Takata)Life Science (Dr. Masaki Yamamoto)

15:00

Coffee Break

15:30
16:00
16:30

Industrial Applications (Dr. Norimasa Umesaki)
RIKEN Harima Institute (Dr. Tetsutarou Iizuka, RIKEN)
Japan Atomic Energy Agency (Dr. Junichiro Mizuki, JAEA)

17:00

Discussions

17:30-21:30
17:30-18:30
18:30-20:30
20:30-21:30

Banquet: Sea Shore Mitsu-misaki
Hotel Nikko Himeji to Sea Shore Mitsu-misaki (Bus)BanquetSea Shore Mitsu-misaki to Hotel Nikko Himeji (Bus)- 17 -

July 4th (Tuesday)

9:00
9:30

Accelerator Division (Dr. Haruo Ohkuma)
Beamline Division (Dr. Syunji Goto)

10:00

Coffee Break

10:30

Research & Utilization Division (Dr. Masaki Takata)

11:00-18:00 SPring-8 Site Tour
11:00-12:30 Hotel Nikko Himeji to SPring-8 (Bus)
12:30-14:00 Lunch
14:00-16:30 SPring-8 Site Tour
16:30-18:00 SPring-8 to Hotel Nikko Himeji (Bus)18:00

Dinner (at Banquet Room Fuji, Hotel Nikko Himeji)

20:00

Drawing Up Report

July 5th (Wednesday)

9:00

Discussion (Closed)

10:00

Coffee Break

10:30

Drawing Up Report

12:30

Lunch (at Restaurant Serena, ground floor, Hotel Nikko Himeji)

14:00

Release of the Draft Report (Prof. G. Materlik)

15:00

Closing Remarks (Dr. Hideo Ohno)

15:10

Coffee Break

15:30

Additional Work on Report

17:00

Dissolution- 18 -C) JIAC Guideline
In its recommendations of 2004, Council for Science and Technology in
Cabinet Office, Government of Japan advised that Japan Synchrotron
Radiation Research Institute (JASRI) should organize an international
advisory council and should respect their recommendations, with which JASRI
could improve the transparency and efficiency in the SPring-8 management
system to ensure the scientific and technological productivities at the facility
for full-fledged exploitation.
In order to appropriately respond to the recommendation given by theCouncil, JASRI establishes JASRI International Advisory Council (JIAC) withthe following guidelines:
1. The mission of JIAC is to review the overall SPring-8 management
undertaken by JASRI as well as the scientific attainments andactivities embodied by JASRI, and to deliver the recommendations to
JASRI for accomplishing the aim indicated above.
2. JIAC consists of about ten (10) members of eminent scientists
internationally acknowledged from various fields of SR science andtechnology, two-third of which is from abroad.
3. The director general of JASRI appoints the chairperson of JIAC.
4. The director general appoints other members of JIAC, based onrecommendations made by the chairperson.
5. JASRI submits information materials requested by JIAC.
6. JASRI functions the office for JIAC by the request from thechairperson.
7. The chairperson organizes and proceeds a meeting (or meetings, if
needed) for review.
8. In reference to the circumstances surrounding JASRI, the JIAC
meeting held in 2006 also pays attention to new management scheme
under the SR law to be amended.
9. JIAC indicates its recommendations to JASRI upon completing thereview process.

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