science_geek Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 Hello everyone, I was driving through Oxfordshire at the weekend and spotted a rather amazing-looking building not far from Oxford. I did a bit of research and found out that it is the Diamond synchotron: http://www.harwelloxford.com/node/90. I was wondering if someone could explain to me what it's for? I don't have much of a brain for physics so the simpler the explanation, the better!! Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klaynos Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 Its basic purpose is as a really really intense light source, over a massive range of different frequencies. A couple of my friends spend a month or so a year there doing various experiments. If you accelerate a charged particle it will radiate at a certain frequency (which depends on the acceleration), so if you have electrons in an accelerator and you make them turn a corner because to turn they need to accelerate they will also radiate. So what you do is you build your experiments so that they get hit by the radiation that occurs at the curves... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cuthber Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 Probably the most expensive light bulb in the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
science_geek Posted June 15, 2011 Author Share Posted June 15, 2011 How amazing! So what kind of things do scientists use it to find out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imatfaal Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 Rach - there is a diamond synchrotron podcast. I haven't listened to it myself - but I know the team that do it and I think the podcast will be fairly accessible Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kerry Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 (edited) There are a few examples of what Diamond is used for here: http://www.labnews.co.uk/feature_archive.php/6018/5/diamond-discoveries I got the spend the day there last year and it's amazing! They also have lots of videos here http://www.youtube.com/labnews#p/c/476F98739A7FC3AB (hope that works). BackStage Science's video is also worth a watch: Edited June 16, 2011 by Kerry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now