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The Government has finally approved the construction of the
latest generation Particle Accelerator or Synchrotron in the El Vallès
high-tech zone. This will be Europe's fourth, and the only one available in
southern Europe. The new Synchrotron has a X-ray beam ten thousand times
brighter than that of the second generation accelerator, opening up a number of
totally new capabilities with applications for industry. Spanish researchers
will no longer have to travel to the French city of Grenoble, where the nearest
second-generation Synchrotron is located. This will be Spain's most important
scientific installation, a huge boost for the Barcelona high-tech industry and
may set in chain self-sustained growth in this sector enabling Barcelona to
become the leading high-tech growth pole in southern Europe.
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Map of synchrotron European locations
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The Grenoble synchrotron
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The proposed site for the synchrotron at the Autonomous
University of Barcelona |
This third-generation synchrotron will cost 120 million euros
(about 20,000 million pesetas), supported through 50% funding from central
(Spanish) government and 50% from the Generalitat (Catalan government). In
addition to the investment for the building, the Catalan Cabinet has anticipated
an annual dowry of 12 million euros (about 2,000 million pesetas) for
maintenance and operation, also shared equally between the Generalitat and the
Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology
The synchrotron is a machine that through the acceleration of
electrons is able to provide light of sufficient intensity to penetrate
materials to  observe
their atomic structure. Its numerous applications range from the manufacture of
new molecules and materials to the design of new microcircuits.
The Synchrotron will serve a minimum of 160 research groups,
formed by around 750 researchers, in several areas such as biology,
biotechnology, new materials, nano-technology, condensed matter, and surface
science.
Spanish researchers already have notable experience in the use
of other installations of this type in the World and in the period 1995-2000
more than 60 groups have used installations in Europe, Japan and the United
States of America. Likewise, the Synchrotron will be open to international
collaborations, as well as to the industrial and university sectors.
The construction of the synchrotron will begin next year and is
expected to be opened in 2008.
The Electrons
The synchrotron's characteristic beam of light has an intensity
more than a million times greater than that of the light from any conventional
source. To obtain this, the electrons are accelerated by means of the
application of high voltages and radio frequencies in a 250 metre perimeter
enclosed storage ring until they reach velocities that approximate to the speed
of light.
The Light
Once the electrons have reached 99.99986 per cent the speed of
light, very powerful electro-magnets direct them as a light beam towards
workstations containing optical instruments and detectors.
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for a more detailed view of the Synchrotron, click diagram |
Resource for hire
Approximately half of the synchrotron's hours will available to
private companies for rent.
The Politics
The project has been the brainchild of a group of researchers
from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, headed by Ramon Pascual and Joan
Bordas. Several Spanish cities have dreamed of obtaining the installation, among
them Seville and Madrid, although Barcelona has always been the leading
candidate. The installation is a result of a specific request from the president
of the Generalitat to Spain's Prime Minister, Jose Maria Aznar, during a recent
trip to the United States.
The Spin-off effects
Other Applications
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Scientists used synchrotron light in Sept. 2000 to test the
lead content of Beethoven's hair.They found elevated lead levels. This provides
evidence that Beethoven had plumbism (lead poisoning) which may have caused his
life-long illnesses, affected his personality, and possibility contributed to
his death. |
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