Midsize Facilities by Board on Physics and Astronomy PAPERBACK 9780309097024

National Academies Press

Midsize FacilitiesThe Infrastructure for Materials Research\nAuthor(s): National Research Council, Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences, Board on Physics and Astronomy, Solid State Sciences Committee, Committee on Smaller Facilities\nFormat: Paperback\nPublisher: National Academies Press, United States\nImprint: National Academies Press\nISBN-13: 9780309097024, 978-0309097024\nSynopsis\nMost of the instruments now used for materials research are too complex and expensive for individual investigators to own, operate, and maintain them. Consequently, they have become increasingly consolidated into multi-user, small to midsized research facilities, located at many sites around the country. The proliferation of these facilities, however, has drawn calls for a careful assessment of best principles for their operation. With support from the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation, the NRC carried out a study to characterize and discuss ways to optimize invest.