What is a CRG ?

The ESRF was originally designed and funded as a facility which would use insertion device (ID) x-ray sources. However, it became clear in the early stages of development of the facility, that scientists from the member countries who had only limited access to beamlines at National Synchrotron Radiation Facilities could benefit from the use of the radiation generated by the bending magnets (BM) in the storage ring. These sources, although less intense than the ID sources can, with appropriate focussing optics, produce x-ray intensities at the sample position which exceed that found in many national facilities. It was therefore agreed in 1990 that scientists from the member countries could form groups to exploit these BM sources provided that this does not divert either manpower or funds from the main ESRF programme. These groups, which design, construct and operate their own beamlines are called Collaborating Research Groups (CRG). 

The ESRF provides x-rays free of charge to the CRG beamlines in return for use of the instrumentation on them, for 1/3 of the scheduled beamtime. Applications for this public beamtime are made to the ESRF user office twice yearly, see the user office pages. In order to apply for beamtine at a CRG beamline you need to submit a proposal to the committee of the beamline where you want to do your experiment. Most of the CRG beamlines have their committee meeting a few weeks after the ESRF committee, others allow an ongoing submission of proposals. We try to make the submission of proposals as consistent as possible. Thus the submission of proposals is mostly the same procedure as for ESRF proposals. Not all CRG beamlines are using this system now, but every possible effort is made to keep the information consistent. You can find the commun site for ESRF and CRG proposal entry as well as all other user administration at  Proposal & Report entry.

Axel Kaprolat is the engineer responsible for advising the CRGs on all technical matters relating to the installation and operation of these beamlines. He is assisted by Eric Dettona, the technician, to ensure various construction and user-oriented tasks on the CRG beamlines. To help with the CRG user programs and with internal ESRF administration, there are three part-time secretaries employed in the CRG Liaison Office. You can obtain more information about CRG experiments at Preparing CRG experiments.