The GD group of the SOLEIL Computing Division provides applications to handle experiments proposals and manage the services offered to the external users by SOLEIL. This undertaking is the responsibility of the User’s Office of the Experiments Division, BBUS.
An agreement was signed with PSI in 2006 on the use of the DUO software system developed for PSI installations, including SLS. The GD group adapted this software to meet SOLEIL’s requirements. It has been given the name “SUNset” and continues to evolve.
SUNset has so far been used to manage sixcalls for proposals and their associated committees. A 7th call for proposals is in process.
As well handling users of the SOLEIL facility, SUNset is used by many members of staff, like beamline and laboratory managers and personnel, the safety group, programme committees, senior management plus, naturally enough the BBUS itself.
The system covers every stage of the project. It is used to record the researchers’ project description, assess feasibility, measure risks associated with samples and handling methods, register the project and assign beam time to it, organize the researcher’s visit to SOLEIL (details of assignment, accommodation, catering, subsidies and logistics), collect scientific results and assess the quality of the services provided by SOLEIL. Material published as a result of the experiment is recorded later.
