10 things we could not have done without synchrotrons

1. The development of the ‘anti-Flu’ drug, Relenza.
2. Determining the structure of F1 ATPase, nature’s smallest rotary motor.
3. Developing a vaccine for Foot & Mouth after successfully mapping the virus.
4. Work on non-nucleoside inhibitors, which it is hoped will form the basis for the next generation of anti-HIV RT non-nucleoside drugs.
5. Help the fight against malaria by studying the life cycle of the deadly malaria parasite in living red blood cells.
6. The detection and analysis of arsenic in the Asian wetlands – vital work for environmental control. 
7. Following the crystallisation of pure cocoa butter in real time – the results showed the optimum conditions for chocolate manufacture.
8. Use intense X-ray beams to penetrate large, complex engineering structures such as aircraft wings to increase our knowledge of residual stresses.
9. Work towards having a laptop computer that’s ready to use as soon as you turn it on. 
10. Find answers to important forensic & historical questions such as “Was Beethoven poisoned?” by studying cultural heritage samples (in Beethoven’s case a hair sample).

The Machine

Diamond's storage ring (the main part of the accelerator) is 561 m in circumference.

The electrons that power Diamond are first fired from an electron ‘gun’, which works like the cathode ray tubes in old TV sets. Diamond accelerate theses electrons to 3 Giga Electron Volts (GeV), which is the same as moving them between the terminals of a giant 3,000 million volt battery.

The electrons travel at nearly the speed of light. They could travel around the world 7.5 times in one second and it would take them just over 8 minutes to travel to the Sun.

When the path of the electron beam is bent by Diamond’s powerful magnets, the electrons produce very intense X-rays, ultra-violet and infra-red light.

Using special magnets called Insertion Devices, we can tune the frequency and focus these beams further, to generate light up to 100 billion times brighter than the Sun.

Construction Facts

• During construction over 2 million man-hours (or 1,100 ‘man-years’) were worked by the construction team.
• Over 2,100 tons of steel were used, equal to around 300 London buses and more than the London Eye (1,600 tons of steel).
• Over 35,000 m³ of concrete were poured, equal to 93 swimming pools.
• Diamond’s roof area is 33,000 m², large enough for a Boeing 747 to drive around the inside of the building.
• Diamond’s floor area is 45,000 m², almost 8 St Paul’s Cathedrals.

History

The UK made a huge contribution to international synchrotron light when, in 1981, we built the world’s first dedicated synchrotron, the Synchrotron Radiation Source (SRS) at the STFC Daresbury Laboratory in Cheshire. In 1993 a report was commissioned by Prof Woolfson to assess the needs of the academic community. It was this report that identified the need for a new and improved UK based machine to supersede the SRS. The research and development programme began and then in 2002 Diamond Light Source Ltd was established – a 10 year dream for a new world-class synchrotron started to become a reality.

Construction of this new scientific facility began in early 2003 and Diamond became operational on schedule in early 2007. The Company is a Joint Venture funded by the UK Government through STFC (86%) and the Wellcome Trust (14%). Phase I investment of £250 million includes Diamond’s buildings and the first seven experimental stations or beamlines. Phase II funding of £120 million for a further 15 beamlines was confirmed in October 2004. The facility represents the largest UK scientific investment for 40 years and can ultimately host up to 40 beamlines.