Diamond Light Source

Diamond Light Source is a synchrotron located in the United Kingdom, near Oxford, and is operated by the Diamond Light Source Ltd. It is a third-generation synchrotron and one of the most advanced facilities of its kind in the world, providing X-ray and infrared radiation to a wide range of scientific experiments, including those in materials science, biology, and chemistry. The facility is funded by the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council and the Wellcome Trust, and is a key part of the UK Research and Innovation network, which includes institutions such as Imperial College London, University of Oxford, and University of Cambridge.

Introduction

The Diamond Light Source is a powerful tool for scientific research, providing extremely bright and focused beams of X-ray and infrared radiation to a wide range of experiments, including those in materials science, biology, and chemistry. The facility is used by researchers from institutions such as University College London, University of Manchester, and University of Edinburgh, as well as by scientists from international organizations such as European Synchrotron Radiation Facility and European Organization for Nuclear Research. The Diamond Light Source is also a key part of the European Research Area, which includes institutions such as Max Planck Society, French National Centre for Scientific Research, and German Research Foundation. Researchers from Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Stanford University also use the facility, which is a member of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics and the European Physical Society.

History

The Diamond Light Source was first proposed in the late 1990s, and construction began in 2003, with funding from the UK Government, Wellcome Trust, and other organizations, including the Royal Society and the Leverhulme Trust. The facility was officially opened in 2007, and has since become one of the most advanced and widely used synchrotrons in the world, with users from institutions such as California Institute of Technology, University of California, Berkeley, and Columbia University. The Diamond Light Source has undergone several upgrades and expansions since its opening, including the addition of new beamlines and experimental facilities, such as the I05 beamline and the B23 beamline, which are used by researchers from University of Tokyo, University of Melbourne, and University of Sydney. The facility has also hosted several international conferences and workshops, including the International Conference on Synchrotron Radiation and the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility User Meeting.

Facility

The Diamond Light Source facility is located on the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire, and consists of a large, circular building that houses the synchrotron and its associated experimental facilities, including the I03 beamline and the I06 beamline, which are used by researchers from University of Chicago, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and University of Michigan. The facility is equipped with a range of advanced technologies, including superconducting magnets, undulators, and monochromators, which are used to produce and manipulate the X-ray and infrared radiation, and are similar to those used at other synchrotron facilities, such as the Advanced Photon Source and the National Synchrotron Light Source II. The facility is also home to a range of experimental stations, including those dedicated to X-ray absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and infrared spectroscopy, which are used by researchers from University of California, Los Angeles, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and University of Texas at Austin.

Research

The Diamond Light Source is used to support a wide range of scientific research, including studies of materials science, biology, and chemistry, and has been used by researchers from institutions such as University of Pennsylvania, University of Washington, and University of Toronto. The facility has been used to study the properties of nanomaterials, biomaterials, and energy materials, and has contributed to advances in fields such as medicine, energy, and environmental science, with collaborations with organizations such as the National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Energy, and the European Space Agency. Researchers from University of Geneva, University of Zurich, and University of Copenhagen have also used the facility to study the properties of superconducting materials, magnetic materials, and optical materials, and have published their results in journals such as Nature, Science, and Physical Review Letters.

Operations

The Diamond Light Source is operated by a team of scientists, engineers, and technicians, who are responsible for maintaining and upgrading the facility, as well as supporting the research activities of its users, including those from University of Oslo, University of Stockholm, and University of Helsinki. The facility operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is supported by a range of advanced technologies, including computer control systems, data acquisition systems, and safety systems, which are similar to those used at other synchrotron facilities, such as the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility and the Advanced Photon Source. The facility is also home to a range of support services, including user offices, meeting rooms, and catering facilities, which are used by researchers from University of Bristol, University of Leeds, and University of Sheffield.

User Access

The Diamond Light Source is a user facility, and provides access to its experimental facilities and expertise to researchers from a wide range of institutions, including University of Nottingham, University of Liverpool, and University of Glasgow. Users can apply for access to the facility through a peer-review process, and are supported by a team of scientists and technicians who help them to plan and execute their experiments, including those using the I07 beamline and the I10 beamline, which are used by researchers from University of Montreal, University of British Columbia, and University of Alberta. The facility also provides a range of training and support services, including workshops, tutorials, and online resources, which are used by researchers from University of Western Australia, University of Queensland, and University of New South Wales. The Diamond Light Source is a member of the Association of European-Level Research Infrastructure Facilities, and works closely with other synchrotron facilities, such as the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility and the Advanced Photon Source, to provide a coordinated and comprehensive range of services to its users, including those from University of Auckland, University of Otago, and University of Canterbury.

Category:Synchrotron radiation facilities