The UK’s membership of XFEL reinforces
the government’s modern Industrial
Strategy, and through the Ageing Society
Grand Challenge, the government is committed to
harnessing the power of innovation to create the
treatments of the future and maintain our position of
being a world-leader in science, research and
innovation.
The XFEL, one of the
most powerful X-ray machines ever built, acts like a
huge microscope, using intensely bright and short
duration X-ray flashes which will enable scientists to
map the atomic details of viruses. The laser also
allows scientists to look in greater detail to the
composition of cells, take 3D images of atoms and
molecules and study processes such as those occurring
deep inside planets.
Science Minister said:
The incredible XFEL will
help us better understand life threatening diseases
by using one of the world’s most powerful X-ray
machines. Working with our international partners,
the super-strength laser will help develop new
medical treatments and therapies, potentially saving
thousands of lives across the world.
Through our modern Industrial Strategy we are
investing an extra £4.7 billion into research and
development. I am determined that we continue to
secure our position as being a world-leader in
science, research and innovation and I can’t wait to
see the results that come from our participation in
this extraordinary project.
British engineers from the Science and Technology
Facilities Council (STFC) have already built the
advanced camera for XFEL, called the
Large Pixel Detector (LPD). The camera operates at a
frame rate of 4.5MHz - 4.5 million pictures per second.
The UK has been involved with XFEL since
2008, contributing £30 million towards the construction
of the facility, and every following year we will
contribute £2.5 million towards operations costs.
STFC have also contributed a number of UK researchers
who are currently working at the facility. The UK has
also developed a training facility at the Diamond Light
Source on the Harwell campus in Oxfordshire for British
scientists. The UK XFEL life
sciences hub will enable users to fully prepare for
their experiments with XFELs.
