Diamond Synchrotron

Today we went to the Diamond Synchrotron which was brilliant.  We were able to go because they have some Open Days (but very few, so keep a sharp eye) when the synchrotron is shut down for maintenance.

I don't know how I didn't know there was a synchrotron in the UK, when it was bloody finished while I was living here.  But I guess if you aren't smashing particles together and scaring idiots into thinking they'll create a black hole, it just doesn't get as much press.  Either that, or I was completely oblivious in 2008.

So the best part is that you get to go INTO THE SYNCHROTRON, you get to stand by the ruddy great big magnets and the insertion beam things.

I'll start with how my tour went as you are broken up into groups of six and taken through.  But you all start at different points so there is no great conversion of people at the end.  Our tour guide was one of the engineers who helps keep in maintained and makes the new things (as they got money to build more beam lines) so he had lots of great stories about it and just knew everything!

So the first picture is when you enter the main bit - so everything beneath is the actual synchrotron.  All the massive concrete things that you can see close up?  The yellow line on them is roughly where the beam runs. WHERE THE BEAM RUNS!  *squee*

We then went to where all the experiment are done and where the beam is focussed into the right type of light/x-ray/beam thing for the type of experiment.  There are many types of experiments and beams and you should read about it because THERE IS A LOT OF SCIENCE.  There were lots of signs that amused me.  Then was the room where the experiments are done and things are hit with the beam. 

We then went into the various bits of the Synchrotron, so the electron gun (I think), the accelerator and then where the beam runs (like the yellow line in picture).  SO MANY MAGNETS.  The big purple thing is where the light goes of tangentially to the beam towards the samples.  

Anyway.  It was awesome.  And they let you take pictures.  And we did an interview with a dude at the synchrotron which we'll have on the Pod Delusion at some point!

I love science.  And engineering.  

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