Launch of New UK Light Source Project
10 Mar 2008 10:42 AM
A project to develop the science and technology case for a new Light Source facility has been initiated by the Science and Technology Facilities Council STFC. The New Light Source NLS project will draw on the substantial scientific expertise and technology capability of STFC’s Daresbury Laboratory, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, and Diamond Light Source Limited, along with input from university teams nationwide.
The New Light Source project follows an international independent review on how the UK could best position itself globally in the development of new Light Sources to succeed the current generation of machines.
The project will be headed by Professor Jon Marangos from Imperial College as Project Leader and Dr. Frances Quinn from the Daresbury Laboratory as Project Manager. STFC’s Daresbury Laboratory will provide the bulk of staff resource for the New Light Source project supplemented by additional effort from Diamond Light Source Limited and STFC’s Central Laser Facility at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, and higher education institutes throughout the UK. The project will deploy 19 staff-years of effort from the Daresbury Laboratory, 4-6 staff-years from Diamond Light Source Limited and 2-3 staff-years from the Central Laser Facility at Rutherford.
Commenting on the project Dr. Frances Quinn at Daresbury Laboratory said, ’This is a great opportunity to develop a world-leading facility in the UK that builds upon the considerable expertise we have at the Daresbury and Rutherford Laboratories, Diamond Light Source Limited and the universities’.
Professor Keith Mason, STFC Chief Executive Officer, said,’ With a clear strategic vision for the future, the New Light Source project will provide a unique opportunity for the UK to win European leadership in this field’.
The project will be overseen by an NLS Board, chaired by Professor Tim Wess of Cardiff University who is also chair of the STFC’s Physical and Life Sciences Committee, and will have members from the Daresbury and Rutherford Laboratories, Diamond Light Source Limited and universities.
‘The project team will face many technical challenges during the course of developing the NLS,’ said Professor Jon Marangos, ‘ but I am confident we have the expertise to produce a robust case that will fully exploit the science opportunities on offer’.
The Board met for the first time 5th March 2008 and agreed the initial project plan and timescales, which are focused on a 6 month consultation with the scientific community to determine the priority science drivers for the project. A community consultation will be launched on 11th April at The Royal Society, London.
The New Light Source project aims to use exceptionally intense, ultra-short pulse photon beams to explore in unprecedented detail the dynamical properties of materials, probe the structure of atoms and molecules, and investigate chemical reactions. It will benefit a whole range of scientific disciplines from physics to biology to technologies that are not possible with more conventional equipment.
Note for editors Details of the project are on STFC website:
http://www.stfc.ac.uk/SciProg/Photon/PhotonSci.aspx
Contact:
Peter Barratt
Tel: +4401793 442025
Mobile: +44 07879 602899
Email: peter.barratt:stfc.ac.uk
Science and Technology Facilities CouncilThe Science and Technology Facilities Council ensures the UK retains its leading place on the world stage by delivering world-class science; accessing and hosting international facilities; developing innovative technologies; and increasing the socio-economic impact of its research through effective knowledge exchange partnerships.
The Council has a broad science portfolio including Astronomy, Particle Physics, Particle Astrophysics, Nuclear Physics, Space Science, Synchrotron Radiation, Neutron Sources and High Power Lasers. In addition the Council manages and operates three internationally renowned laboratories:
• The Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Oxfordshire
• The Daresbury Laboratory, Cheshire
• The UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Edinburgh
The Council gives researchers access to world-class facilities and funds the UK membership of international bodies such as the European Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN), the Institute Laue Langevin (ILL), European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), the European organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO) and the European Space Agency (ESA). It also contributes money for the UK telescopes overseas on La Palma, Hawaii, Australia and in Chile, and the MERLIN/VLBI National Facility, which includes the Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank Observatory.
The Council distributes public money from the Government to support scientific research. Between 2007 and 2008 we will invest approximately £678 million.