News

Durham scientists awarded first access to UK’s largest new Science Facility

(9 February 2007)

A team of top scientists from Durham University, this week, joined leading academics from Leicester, Oxford, and London to become the first users of one of the brightest sources of light in the world at the largest new science facility built in the UK for 30 years.

Marking the dawn of a new era of scientific endeavour, Diamond Light Source, the UK’s brand new synchrotron facility, will enable scientists to find out more than ever before about the secret structure of the world around us. The first projects were selected from a total of 127 proposals received last year from the synchrotron user community. 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. This will provide Diamond scientists with real projects to assist in the 6 month period of fine-tuning of the first experimental stations that will secure a place for Diamond on the international research stage. One of Diamond’s first users was David Eastwood, University of Durham (Materials and Magnetism Beamline, I16). David Eastwood is a post-graduate student working with Professor Brian Tanner at the University of Durham. David will be using Diamond’s X-rays to carry out detailed examinations of new sensors to be used in computer components that ‘read’ the magnetic information stored in its memory. His research will aid the development of smaller and more sensitive sensors to cope with the ever-increasing demand for higher performance computers and electronic equipment. The sensors have been developed by a group in the US and are made up of minutely thin films of magnetic materials. The sensitivity of the sensor is dependent on the structure and quality of these layers, therefore understanding the properties of these ‘magnetic sandwiches’ will be crucial to developing more sensitive components. David explains; “We continually have to improve the sensitivity of our sensors used to read magnetic information because the density of data on computer hard discus has been doubling about every 18 months and continues to do so, driven by the demand for ever higher performance computers and ever smaller portable media devices.” The first research projects will be carried out in experimental stations (or beamlines) that are part of Phase I of development – comprising Diamond’s buildings, the synchrotron machine itself and the first seven beamlines. Phase I investment of £260 million from the UK Government (86%) via CCLRC and the Wellcome Trust (14%), has been used to deliver the facility on time, on budget and to the specifications set out. Funding for Phase II of the project – a further £120 million – was confirmed in October 2004 and will be used to build 15 additional beamlines to expand the range of research applications available at Diamond. Construction has already started on the Phase II beamlines and beyond this, on average four to five new beamlines will be available each year until 2011. As it opens its doors to its first users this month, Diamond is able to celebrate the successful completion of Phase I and contemplate the exciting prospect of entering Phase II. For more information about Diamond Light Source, please see http://www.diamond.ac.uk