£11.5 million for three-year exploratory phase of world-leading 4th generation light source project at Daresbury
The building of the world-leading 4GLS (4th generation light source) has come one step closer with the announcement of £11.5 million for an exploratory phase of the project.
This phase involves a three-year study to establish the technical know-how needed to build this innovative scientific research facility, including the construction of a prototype test facility.
4GLS is a proposed major research facility.
If constructed, it would produce very short pulses of light, over a million, million, million times brighter than a household light bulb.
Its peak power would be roughly equivalent to that needed to light every home in London.
It would allow researchers to study molecules working in real time, follow chemical reactions as they happen, look at potential drug molecules as they interact with cells and examine the spin of electrons.
The research carried out on 4GLS would help develop the next generation of computer memories, pharmaceuticals and catalysts.
David Sainsbury, science and innovation minister said: "This three-year study into the technology behind 4GLS is an important step towards placing Daresbury at the cutting edge of accelerator science.
4GLS would provide scientists with a first-class facility to conduct vital experiments in many disciplines.
Its potential capability is unique in the world, and its capacity to combine a wide range of experiments would establish the UK as a major international player in this technology." Elaine Seddon, the 4GLS project manager at CCLRC Daresbury Laboratory, said; "This is a tremendous day for Daresbury Laboratory, and a great recognition of the abilities of the Daresbury staff who have done some real 'out-of-the-box' thinking to generate this truly next generation project.
Twenty years ago, Daresbury demonstrated that it could lead the world with the building of the world's first 'second generation' source, the current SRS - now we have shown that we can lead the world again with 4th generation technology." This news provides confirmation of a bright future for the Daresbury Laboratory, coming as it does hot on the heels of the award of two other major projects: HPCx - a œ53 million project won by the laboratory last year to develop the most powerful academic research computer in Europe; and Superstem - a project based at the laboratory and run by the Universities of Liverpool and Cambridge to develop the world's most powerful microscope.
The Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) has also announced that it is investing œ25.7 million in order to develop a science park at Daresbury Laboratory, providing a direct link from the laboratory's research to industry.
4GLS was originally part of a multi-faceted proposal named Casim (Centre for Accelerator Science Imaging and Medicine).
The other large facility component was a proton cyclotron project called Sirius.
After careful consideration of the scientific need for Sirius, it has been decided that although there is a case for the evaluation of protons as a treatment option, it is not perceived as a priority by the majority of stakeholders.
For this reason the prospective partners in the project: the Department of Health, the Medical Research Council and the DTI, feel they cannot support and contribute to the project.
Assistance will be provided through the Research Councils to provide access to international facilities for scientists in this field.
