Not the cutting edge in the world of physics, but a good news for the scientific community of a 3rd world country
schematic drawing of the facility
http://lnls.cnpem.br/wp-content/uploads ... layout.png
I am sorry, but even tough I can translate much better than Google, Google can translate orders of magnitude faster than I can type. So the news is in ENGRISH brought to you by Google
Brazil will start construction of the electron accelerator third generation this year
28/01/2013
By Karina Toledo
Agency FAPESP - should begin later this year, the National Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS), in Campinas, construction of new electron accelerator third generation, called Sirius.
Capable of emitting radiation with greater brightness and generate images with higher resolution than the current, second generation, the equipment may be attracted to the country leading scientists in the international arena, as the Israeli Ada Yonath - Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry in 2009 for his work on the structure and function of ribosomes - or American Brian Kobilka - awarded in 2012 by the discovery of a new cellular receptor - said Antonio José Roque da Silva, director of the LNLS.
"It will open a facility that will meet the most diverse areas of science, from medicine, biophysics, biotechnology, molecular and structural biology, paleontology up, materials science, nanotechnology and agriculture. If the equipment is truly state of the art, will attract top researchers from around the world, "he said.
Since 1997, the LNLS, is open for use in external surveys an electron accelerator second generation. Currently, the lab is subordinate to the National Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) and has 16 experimental stations, also called beamlines, serving around 500 research groups per year.
A part of the experimental station equipment was acquired for projects supported by FAPESP, as the beamline for structural molecular biology (MX2) and equipment to line the superconducting wiggler.
Unique in Latin America, is capable of emitting synchrotron radiation of high brightness in various frequencies, from infrared to X-ray This allows us to study the atomic structure that comprises the most diverse materials and discover how they are distributed spatially and how they are interconnected.
"To understand the difference between the X-rays emitted by a machine commonly used in medicine and radiation emitted by the synchrotron, we can compare the beam of a flashlight with a laser pointer, which is much smaller divergence," Roque explained the Silva.
According to the director of the LNLS, the same analogy can be used to compare the beam of photons emitted by a second accelerator and a third generation.
The final energy of the electrons will be more than double the current, which is 1.37 GeV (gigaelétron-volt). Besides generating more light intensity, Sirius also expand its range of reach for the hard X-rays (the penultimate in the electromagnetic spectrum, gamma rays behind). It will penetrate thicker structures.
"Today, when studying the properties of steel, for example, can only penetrate the outermost layer of the material. With the new accelerator we could actually achieve the volume and learn how the atoms are arranged, "said Roque da Silva.
The smaller divergence of beam of photons, in turn, will increase the resolution of images, enabling the realization of measures microscopy with nanometer precision. "Is it possible to generate three-dimensional images of a cell and its organelles," he said.
On the border
According to the director of the LNLS in July will be ready the project executive for the new accelerator, which contains all the information architecture and infrastructure necessary for the commencement of works. It is planned to build up to 40 experimental stations - nearly triple the current capacity.
"The conceptual design is completed. Originally he was competitive compared to other third-generation synchrotrons, but the international committee of assessors challenged us to make an even bolder project. Now he brings a series of innovations that place, in fact, the technology frontier, "said Roque da Silva.
While the other equipment of the type system using electromagnets, the Sirius system is entirely based on permanent magnets, which reduces the need for power cables.
"We also made drastic changes in the magnetic network and the vacuum chamber. The beam of light of Sirius is among the brightest in the world, "said Roque da Silva.
The estimated cost of the project, estimated to finish in 2016 is $ 650 million. So far, according to Roque da Silva, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) has invested about $ 55 million.
"The MCTI considers Sirius as one of the priority projects for the country and the support has been growing. But we are also looking for other partners, "said Roque da Silva.
The project also has the support of the state government of São Paulo, which has pledged to make the expropriation of land of 150 square meters will be built where the accelerator - alongside current facilities LNLS.
"The construction of Sirius is undoubtedly one of the most important actions in terms of the internationalization of science. The power of nucleation of a lab this size is huge, "he said Roque da Silva.
New electron accelerator in Brazil!
New electron accelerator in Brazil!
Last edited by AcesHigh on Thu Jan 31, 2013 6:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.