Beamlines | Phase III

Phase III Overview

Opened in 2007, Diamond has followed a phased programme of construction. Phase I comprised the machine and infrastructure and 7 initial beamlines, with a further 15 beamlines developed in Phase II from 2007 to 2012. In October 2010 the UK Government confirmed funding for Phase III, to provide for the design, procurement, construction and commissioning of a further ten state-of-the-art beamlines. These will be built at two per year and to become operational between 2012 and 2017. Together with the 22 beamlines constructed under Phase I and Phase II, they will bring the total number of beamlines to 32, ensuring that the potential of Diamond is fully realised.

The selection process

Phase III will build on the progress that has been made under Phase I and Phase II and will maximise the return on the original investment, exploiting the full potential of the source, and benefiting from the proximity of other facilities on the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus.

The core aims are to:

  • enhance Diamond as a world centre of synchrotron research;
  • extend the reach of Diamond to new areas including environmental, cultural heritage, medical and space sciences, the pharmaceutical and food processing industries;
  • provide, within scientific villages, integrated provision to maximise the impact of synchrotron radiation;
  • support the strategic plans of the Research Councils and the Wellcome Trust
  • complement other light sources, in particular, the ESRF and XFEL

To achieve these core objectives Diamond has established robust and transparent procedures for selecting beamlines, and already have chosen the first five beamlines. In the life sciences these include an innovative macromolecular crystallography (MX) beamline to enable structure determination at longer wavelengths inaccessible to existing beamlines and a comprehensive provision of X-ray imaging facilities, with new full-field and scanning microscopy beamlines. In the physical sciences these new beamlines will enable imaging of materials at levels of detail unprecedented for the UK. This will bring new understanding to environmental, geological and materials sciences. These new beamlines will allow study of the electronic structure of the most complex and intellectually challenging materials of the physical world.

arrow iconApproved beamlines

Next steps - May 2011

In February/March 2011 proposals for the final five beamlines were presented to the Diamond SAC and the Diamond Industry Committee (DISCo). Diamond Management requested that SAC and DISCo should prioritise these proposals taking into account scientific potential, UK user community demand and industrial demand within the context of facilities at Diamond (operating and in construction) and the views of the UK Research Councils. The SAC also considered against the worldwide provision of synchrotron radiation facilities.

After consideration of the advice from the SAC and DISCo the Diamond Board have agreed that design and construction of four beamlines should be considered in detail and the recruitment process for the role of Principal Beamline Scientist for the agreed beamlines has begun.

In October 2010, Diamond Light Source issued a call for ideas for new beamlines as part of the final prioritisation procedure for Phase III. Outline Proposals have been received and consultation with the scientific community is ongoing. The Diamond SAC will prioritise the Outline Proposals in June 2011. At that meeting the SAC will recommend those proposals that should proceed to the preparation of full cases for support. Full proposals will be considered at an Open Meeting of the Diamond SAC on 11 October 2011.

arrow iconSelection of the remaining Phase III Beamline

Diamond Light Source is keen to make the procedure for selection of the final five Phase III beamlines as transparent as possible. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Dave Stuart or Trevor Rayment directly.
Trevor Rayment and Dave Stuart
Science Directors
Diamond Light Source