Highlighting tomorrow's technology
An internationally outstanding science facility will enable scientists to confirm their ideas, develop new theories and inspire a new generation of technologists to design new materials in the future. The uniquely powerful facility, 4GLS (the Fourth Generation Light Source), will be used for a new generation of dynamic experiments investigating how molecules and devices work in real time - such as working out how the next generation of computer memories will function, or how enzymes carry out their function in the body.
A one-day conference ‘Delivery of Industrial Solutions’ was held on the Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus on Thursday 10 May to help industry understand the progress made with the breakthrough 4GLS technology and explore its applications in key industrial sectors such as healthcare, energy and environment, and security. The conference included representatives of major multinational companies such as Shell, IBM, Rolls Royce and AstraZeneca, as well as leading academics and scientists.
Energy Recovery Linac Prototype (ERLP) - prototype to 4GLS
John Stageman, Vice President of Biopharmaceuticals for AstraZeneca and a member of the Industrial Advisory Board for 4GLS said “Through 4GLS, we’re going to discover things about biological matter and interactions that we didn’t know before. It’s exciting to know there are things you might predict you can find but also things that you’ve never had the chance to look at before, and are therefore truly undiscovered”.
Professor Colin Whitehouse, Director of Knowledge Exchange for the Science and Technology Facilities Council, which is funding the work, said “Development of the Fourth Generation Light Source is a clear opportunity to take a leading global position in state of the art platform technology. 4GLS would enable UK’s R&D-focused businesses to deliver breakthroughs in technology in applications from drug development to next generation computer memory, and from highly energy efficient processes to non-damaging security systems”.
The 'prototype phase' of 4GLS is currently underway at the Daresbury Laboratory. If the Daresbury team is successful it will place them in pole position to secure the Government investment needed to enable the full 4GLS facility to be built on the Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus.
Notes to Editors
Contacts
4GLS
4GLS will be a world-leading photon facility to enable internationally outstanding science in the UK. The 4GLS facility will combine energy recovery linac (ERL) and free electron laser (FEL) technologies to deliver a suite of naturally synchronised state-of-the-art sources of synchrotron radiation and FEL radiation covering the terahertz (THz) to soft X-ray regimes.
4GLS will enable the study of real time molecular processes and reactions on timescales down to tens of femtoseconds in short-lived, nanostructured or ultra-dilute systems. Key areas where 4GLS will make unique contributions are in:
- understanding the function of single biomolecules in living systems and membrane transport;
- determining catalytic reaction pathways (in areas as diverse as enzyme processes, reactions contributing to atmospheric pollution or occurring in the interstellar medium);
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studies of electron motion in atoms/molecules and developing 'coherent control' of reactions;
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developing new nanoscale devices through understanding electron charge and spin transport; and
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developing new dynamic imaging techniques to improve early diagnosis of conditions such as cancer.
For more information go to the 4th Generation Light Source website (link opens in a new window).
Northwest Regional Development Agency
The Conference was sponsored by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA). The NWDA leads the economic development and regeneration of England's Northwest and is responsible for:
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Supporting business growth and encouraging investment
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Matching skills provision to employer needs
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Creating the conditions for economic growth
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Connecting the region through effective transport and communication infrastructure
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Promoting the region’s outstanding quality of life
For more information go to The Northwest Regional Development Agency website (link opens in a new window).
About STFC
Page last updated: 11 May 2007
by Dennis Abbley
