Report of the RIKEN SPring-8 Center Advisory Council 2019

General statement

RSAC greatly appreciates the organization and management of the review. The written materials, the travel
arrangements, and the accomodations were all excellent. The presentations were well-prepared, clear, andcomplete.
RSAC recognizes the world class status of the SPring-8/SACLA complex. In particular, RSAC appreciates thethoughtful response to the 2016 RSAC recommendations and the specific steps taken by RSC and JASRI toaddress these recommendations. An example that highlights this response is the joint review of RSC and JASRI,affording RSAC the opportunity to understand the SPring-8/SACLA facilities as a whole.
The new directions in the areas of cryo-EM, NMR, laser science, and forensic science highlight the dynamic
leadership of SPring-8 and SACLA. The continuous progress in the technical areas, detector development forexample, is very impressive.
The collaborative development of SLiT-J is a significant step towards a unified approach to SR in Japan.
The RSAC has several specific comments/recommendations.
RSAC again takes note that large research infrastructures, like SPring-8/SACLA do not fit into the‘RIKEN single investigator model’. There is an ongoing need to address the operation andmanagement of such facilities in Japan, especially in light of the approval of SLiT-J and its
construction start. RSAC suggests investigating existing large facility management systems worldwide, for example the HGF in Germany and the DoE in the US.

The extraordinary operational performance of SPring-8 relies on a foundation of all of theinfrastructure being reliable. By all we mean not only the storage ring and FEL components but also
the conventional facilities, power, water, buildings, and so on. These systems are sufficiently complex
and subtle that a single entity must take ‘ownership’ of the facility and management of the facility
must be located on-site. Only with the responsibility for all aspects of the facility being managed by asingle entity that considers itself to be ‘part of the team,’ can the world-leading SPring- 8/SACLA
performance be maintained. RSAC strongly suggests creating a management structure consistent withthis scenario.

RSAC encourages RSC/JASRI to work toward eliminating the requirement for ‘radiation worker’status for users. This is especially important for users from institutions and industries that do not haveradiation worker training.
The new efforts toward a more unified management approach to the SPring-8 should focus not only on
efficiency but also career development for young staff whether from RSC or JASRI.

Comments on the specified issues
Terms of Reference for RSAC

Comments and/or recommendations regarding the management and operation of the SPring-8/SACLA
facilities.
The view of RSAC regarding management of the SPring-8/SACLA facilities is best described in the MEXT
Quinquennial Assessment of SPring-8/SACLA recommendation “…that the roles and responsibilities forpublic, RIKEN, and contract beamlines should be redefined in a more coordinated manner in order to address
broad, critical requirements from society.”
The separation into public, RIKEN, and contract beamlines has both positive and negativefeatures. The SPring-8 system enables general user access, RIKEN user access, and industrialaccess. This is a very positive approach. The funding and management for the public andRIKEN beamlines is separate highlighting the challenge of maintaining the quality of thecontract beamlines. The present approach can naturally lead to aging infrastructure and a lack of renewal ofbeamline hardware. Therefore, RSAC recommends a review and evaluation of the contract beamline system.
The RSAC appreciates the unique opportunity that the SPring-8-II upgrade affords JASRI and RIKEN toinvestigate possibilities to streamline governance of the facility. The upgrade also affords the opportunity toreview the facility as a whole and identify inefficiencies that can be eliminated freeing up resources for thedevelopment and maintenance of the beamline portfolio.
RSAC encourages the development of a regular beamline review system that looks at all the beamlines, RIKEN,public, and contract, one by one, every ten years. This corresponds to 6 beamlines per year that could begrouped according to research area and/or technique. These reviews can provide critical input into technicalchoices for investment and upgrade of the beamlines. These reviews can also serve as a mechanism to ensurethat the contract beamlines remain well-funded, maintained, and utilized.

The use of SCSS as the third SACLA beamline has been very successful. RSAC endorses its continued use aspart of the SACLA portfolio. Two aspects of beamline 1 that should be considered are (1) increasing theelectron beam energy thereby extending the photon energy and perhaps reaching the carbon K edge at 0.284
keV), and (2) consider implementing HGHG. FERMI at Elettra has been highly successful and world leading inmany aspects as a result of their standard HGHG mode of operation. The SPring-8 site has all the necessary
expertise, accelerator physics, undulator technology, and laser science to implement HGHG quickly onbeamline 1.

Comments and/or recommendations regarding the accelerator/beamline upgrade for the SPring-8-II
project (including scrap & build),
RSAC takes note of the world leading reliability of SPring-8. The present approach to the SPring-8-II
accelerator is designed to maintain this position. We note here that reliable conventional facilities and systeminfrastructure (power supplies, for example, but also building and site maintenance, ) are critical for reliable
operations of the accelerator complex.
The ‘pause in SPring-8-II’ for the construction of SLiT-J affords the opportunity to follow the ESRF upgrade
before finalizing the approach for the SPring-8- II design. External advice on the ring design can be helpful inmaking a final decision for the approach. We note that a green field design at HEPS (China) aims to achieve 34
pm-rad at 6 GeV, 200 mA and a circumference of 1360 m.
RSAC takes note of the world leading optics and detector developments ongoing at SPring-8 and encourages
designers to incorporate these novel capabilities into their beamline designs. RSAC appreciates thepresentations of the beamline portfolio and the approach to the decisions about the portfolio that takes uniqueadvantage of the performance gains from SPring-8-II.
RSAC strongly supports the immediate implementation of the ‘scrap and build ‘approach to producing world
leading beamline capabilities in advance of the completion of the SPring-8-II storage ring upgrade. RSAC
endorses the development of the portfolio with a balance between workhorse (high throughput), advanced(science), and novel (technology/methods) beamlines.

Comments and/or recommendations regarding the role of SPring-8 in synchrotron radiation facilities inJapan and around the world.
RSAC notes that SPring-8 is the leading high energy x-ray storage ring facility in Japan and one of fiveworldwide (ESRF, APS, PETRA III, CHESS and SPring-8).
RSAC takes note that, with the completion of SPring-8-II, the hard x-ray capabilities in Japan will remaincompetitive with the very best worldwide efforts (ESRF EBS and APS-U) presently under construction.
RSAC encourages RSC/JASRI to utilize their world leading positions in detector development and x-ray optics tocreate several truly world leading beamlines as part of the portfolio. In the development process, engagement ofthe scientific community in Japan and worldwide is essential to create world leading scientific programs. This isclear from the successes of inelastic scattering (SPring-8) and non-linear x-ray science (SACLA).
RSAC recommends that the strong collaboration with the SLiT-J accelerator design and construction should beextended to beamline design, optics development and detectors not only for SLiT-J but broadly across all SR
facilities in Japan as well as worldwide.
RSAC notes that the detector developments can also impact electron microscopy and the HTS developments
for NMR can be applied to other disciplines. These opportunities should not be missed.
RSAC notes that the world leading development in optics by Osaka University led to commercialization withJTEC and similar commercialization efforts may be possible for detectors as well. This has the potential tobroadly impact the x-ray community in the same way as JTEC mirrors have.
RSAC greatly appreciates the inclusion of both cryo-EM and NMR into the RSC driven by structural biology.
These capabilities are not restricted to structural biology but will impact science more broadly. Of particularnote are the technical developments that are world leading – driving toward 1.5 GHz NMR and the highest
resolution cryoEM.

In collaboration with JEOL the development of the cold field emission gun will lead to anext generation microscopes.

Comments and/or recommendations regarding the progress of SPring-8/SACLA toward their mission toset the direction for the future of science.

RSAC notes that it is not sufficient to just have the best tools, one needs to apply these tools to cutting

edge scientific challenges as well as the needs of society. The measure of success is that research
results obtained on the SPring-8 campus provides critical information to address these challenges that
one cannot get anywhere else.

Terms of Reference for Center Advisory Councils

President Dr. Hiroshi Matsumoto has asked the Center Advisory Councils to answer specificquestions in his terms of reference (TOR).

What follows are the RSAC comments andrecommendations.

Comments

TOR 1. The SPring-8 campus hosts two world class accelerator based light sources: The storage ring,
SPring-8 and the free electron laser, SACLA. Both are among the best in the world. Of particular noteis SACLA the world’s first ‘compact’ free electron laser incorporating many novel features. The userbase for both facilities although Japan centric attracts the best researchers from around the world. The
science accomplishments span from basic to applied research and of note is the industrial use
component of SPring-8. The research results have and almost certainly will continue to address
important problems that directly impact society from energy to the environment and health. The
strategic goals presented to the RSAC 2019 are consistent with the present fourth mid to long termplan.

TOR 2.
(Strength)
Operate SPring-8/SACLA as Advanced Solution Providing Facilities including now cryoEMand NMRExperience of SPring-8/SACLA construction and commissioningHigh capabilities of equipment development supported by Japanese industry

Distance from Tokyo, Small Noize

(Weakness)
Location; Far from big cities, Difficulties in recruiting

Unnecessary role sharing among the managing stakeholders (RSC and JASRI)



Inefficiency of the subcontractors and ourselves



Wako management system is optimized for single investigator research(Opportunity)
Grand-Design and redefinition of the SR facilities in Japan

Sophistication of the science by the construction of the 3 GeV SR facility



Exploitation of the new users and development of the new scheme of industrial collaborationby the upgrading(Threat)Dwindling human resource supply with the decreasing university courses



Recruiting Technical Supporting Staff



Misunderstandings in large-scale facility management (support which caused the historicaldegradation of INS-SOR and PF)

The SWOT analysis that was presented addresses concisely the position that the accelerator based
light sources on the Harima campus sit on the world scene. It addresses accelerator development,
beamline development and the user base.
TOR 3. The RSC plays a leading role as a result of the breadth of applications of accelerator based xray sources as a ‘Science and Technology Hub’. The HUB is intrinsic in large x-ray facilties such as
SPring-8 and SACLA. On any given day one finds international investigators side by side withJapanese reserachers from all disciplines that benefit from results of x-ray experiments. By theirnature, in particular for hard x-ray free electron lasers, large accelerator based x-ray sources areinternational.

This is clear from the diverse user base of SACLA and SPring-8.

TOR 4. See attached.

Recommendations

1. All other facilities of comparable size and breadth have regular beamline reviews that evaluatetechnical status, scientific productivity by users and staff. These reviews guide investments tokeep the beamlines competitive and productive. RSAC recommends establishing reviews at
SPring-8 in preparation for SPring-8-II. These reviews will inform the prioritization ofinvestments between now and the completion of the upgrade. These reviews should cover all thebeamlines whether under the responsibility of RIKEN or JASRI.
2. The overall portfolio of beamlines at SPring-8 should be evaluated in light of the developments at
SLiT-J and the existing facilities at PF and PF-AR at KEK to guide choices for SPring-8-II.

3. Some peer facilities have management structures where the scientific disciplines that benefit mostfrom their beamline capabilities are highlighted in order to optimally invest resources to maximize
scientific impact. This approach for the RSC in collaboration with JASRI is strongly encouraged.