New light facility opens for business
The state-of-the art centre opens for business today
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Tuesday, 06, Feb 2007 11:04
A new state-of-the-art science facility opens for business in the UK today.
The Diamond Light Source in Oxfordshire will enable scientists and businesses to make use of cutting edge light technology.
The £300 million 'synchrotron' facility uses intense beams of light to examine objects in unique detail.
After receiving 127 proposals, the synchrotron user committee has selected the first four academics from London, Leicester, Oxford and Durham who will be given access to the facility.
David Eastwood of the University of Durham; Professor Dave Stuart of the University of Oxford; Professor Chris Binns of the University of Leicester; and Dr Paul Schofield of the Natural History Museum are all experts in the field.
"The first users possess an extensive knowledge of synchrotron science and bring a range of research projects to Diamond from cancer research, to advancing data storage techniques, to unravelling the mysteries of the solar system," Diamond said in a statement.
"This will provide Diamond scientists with real projects to assist in the six-month period of fine-tuning of the first experimental stations that will secure a place for Diamond on the international research stage."
There are currently seven 'beamlines' at the facility, which can be used for a range of scientific experiments as well as industrial processes.