Technology | Beamline

The Diamond machine

The machine is an assembly of components used to produce, confine and maintain a high energy electron beam in a closed orbit for periods of several hours while the electrons produce synchrotron light for a wide variety of experiments. 

3D model of the machine


Beamlines

Diamond will ultimately host up to 40 cutting edge research stations, or beamlines, supporting the life, physical and environmental sciences. Each individual beamline is specifically designed to support a particular research community or technique.

A beamline has four major sections:

  • Front end where light is extracted from the storage ring
  • Optics hutch where certain wavelengths of light are selected and focussed
  • Experimental hutch housing the experimental equipment. X-rays interact with the sample and are detected using x-ray cameras.
  • Control cabin where the scientific team monitors and controls every aspect of the experiment and takes data.