2012 Standards Discussion

• The following is the agenda of work posted under business for canSAS-2012. Please add comments and expand on details here:
  • Purpose and goals: Intercomparison of data measured on the same sample with different instruments and different techniques (SAXS, SANS, light scattering etc.) can prove valuable in a number of ways. In particular it aids understanding of details of the experimental methods and it can help assess reliability. In a similar way, looking at results of data reduction or analysis generated with different software can provide valuable information about performance and verification of methodology. Specifically these activities should:
    • Provide Quality Assurance/Quality Control,
    • Improve (reduce) uncertainties of SAS measurements in general,
    • Help each facility continuously improve performance and quality of data.
  • We will discuss what types of tests are interesting/important:
    • Beam intensity standards - there are several different ways to quantify this
    • Standards to test resolution
    • Absolute intensity calibrations,
    • Materials for Q calibration,
    • etc. etc,
  • Some other related issues:
    • Inelastic,
    • Multiple scattering,
    • Wavelength contamination,
    • Detector efficiencies at different wavelengths
    • limits in signal to noise - how weak a signal can be reliable extracted;
    • etc.
  • Outcomes needed are:
    • A written plan to sustain long term effort in this area
    • This should describe how to seed, co-ordinate and publicise “ad-hoc” projects ,
    • Assess how frequently exercises can be undertakem
    • Define good ways to disseminate/share results. This will including “advertising” projects and using them as input for other activities.
  • We should aim to define a list of 2 or 3 projects for work in the near term. This should include a plan of action and participants for each.
  • We shoud have a plan for presentation at SAS 2012. (This might just be an announcement of the plan and see who wants to participate?.)