Photon Science Research Institute
IMPORTANT NEWS
Professor Justin Wark response to the
STFC Council prioritisation announcement.
Download PDF response here
Introduction
The recent ‘UK Light Sources Review’ identified the need for a UK Research Institute to cover 4th generation light source science.
This institute is being designed to act as a focal point in the UK for the exploitation of next-generation photon sources. This will help bring together activity at a large number of universities with work at STFC and Diamond. It will nurture key branches of science that make use of advanced photon sources, but which find themselves without adequate resources to develop appropriately.
The institute will work to improve access to non-UK facilities (e.g. FLASH and LCLS, though links with other facilities operating at longer wavelengths, and providing different resources, are also being explored).
An important initial task of the institute will be to assemble a ‘task force’ to help define the scientific requirements for the proposed UK-based new light source project.
Science Aims
A list of key science areas has been defined which represent key opportunities for the use of emerging 4th generation facilities (FLASH, XFEL, LCLS, etc). Academic advocates for each scientific area, who also currently form the Board of the Institute, are being identified. Their purpose is twofold:
- To advocate and nurture the growth of UK-based scientific
activity exploiting current, emergent and future advanced light
sources around the world - To help provide (along with other input, such as relevant items
from the original 4GLS science case) the scientific motivation for the
proposed UK New Light Source, and thus define the principal technical
specifications for the project.
For both aspects, a wide consultation with the UK scientific community
is planned in which no relevant areas will be excluded. There is
already a detailed explanation of many exciting areas of science in
the 4GLS ‘Landscapes’ document. A set of areas that require additional
analysis has been selected. These areas will focus on aspects which
will exploit the core properties of next-generation sources (e.g.
ultrafast probing).
The scientific prioritisation and consultation process will take on
board all of the science drivers when forming its view of the critical
priority areas.
The list of areas as currently constituted is given below, with the
nominated advocate:
- Life Sciences - Professor Dame Louise Johnson
- Condensed Matter Physics - Professor Andrea Cavalleri
- Femto-Chemistry - Dr Jonathan Underwood
- Ultra-fast quantum systems - Professor Jon Marangos
- High Energy Density Physics - Professor Justin Wark
- Advanced Accelerator Concepts - Professor Swapan Chattopadhyay
- Surface Science - Professor Wendy Flavell
Roles and Funding
The Institute will not be an employer. It will enable participation of university-based staff by: releasing time for research and/or funding students and/or providing seed-corn funding to use extant advanced light sources and/or by enabling access to facilities. It will be a virtual institute in the first instance.
Resources are being sought for the following generic activities:
- Development of the scientific case for the proposed UK light source (academic time, workshops, etc)
- Enabling funds for access to current and emerging international 4th generation and other novel light sources (for example FLASH and LCLS)
- Enhancement of these advanced light sources to meet specific UK needs.
- The provision of summer schools / workshops in this emerging field
- Funds (in partnerships with Universities) for PhD students.
Timetable and Future of the Institute
The Institute was launched at a Town Meeting at the Royal Society on 11th April 2008. The initial task of the Institute will be to help generate the science case for the NLS. It is expected that very soon after, or even during this process, funding will become available for the enabling activities outlined above. Full details of such funding opportunities, and details of how to apply, will be posted on this website, as well as being disseminated to all those involved in the consultation process.
It is anticipated that the board of the Institute will be enhanced
and extended over the coming months,
in consultation with the community, to ensure that the wealth of good
science being performed across the UK is
well represented.
In the longer term the Board will be considering the case for the creation of a ‘Real’, rather than virtual, Institute. If such a case can be made, and is accepted and funded by STFC, then such a substantial change in its status would be accompanied by a complete re-evaluation of its composition and leadership by STFC.
