Sweden joins race to host next-generation particle accelerator
Sweden has joined Hungary and Spain in a bid to host the European Spallation Source (ESS), a project to design and construct a next-generation facility for research using neutrons. Nuclear spallation is one of the processes by which a particle accelerator may be used to produce a beam of neutrons. Neutron scattering is a technology that enables researchers to 'see' inside matter. It uses neutron particles to penetrate deep inside matter, revealing where atoms are and how they behave. Probing matter in this way enables researchers to understand the natural processes at work within materials and also lets them predict how they will behave in certain conditions. Neutron scattering has important implications for materials scientists, physicists, life scientists, earth scientists and engineers. As the demand for the technology grows, the need for a more powerful source capable of producing more neutrons is becoming more urgent. Currently, Europe has several important pulsed neutron and muon facilities, including the Laue-Langevin Institute(ILL) in Grenoble France and the ISIS facility in Oxfordshire, UK. However, facilities are being built in both Japan and the US, which, when fully operational, could eventually eclipse their European counterparts. With an estimated budget of €1.2 million, the ESS facility is intended to become the world's most powerful source of neutrons. According to the European Strategy Forum for Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) roadmap, the construction of facility is foreseen as early as 2009 and could be operational by 2017-2018. The costs will be shared between participating countries. But first a European site for the facility's construction much be chosen. The Swedish Government says it is ready to host the facility, and is offering 30% of total costs and 10% of the operational costs. Spain and Hungary are also said to be interested in hosting the facility.
Countries
Spain, Hungary, Sweden