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XFEL: Brilliant X-ray laser comes online XFEL: Brilliant X-ray laser comes online
(35 minutes later)
One of the most powerful X-ray machines ever built has officially opened in the German city of Hamburg.One of the most powerful X-ray machines ever built has officially opened in the German city of Hamburg.
The facility, which has cost more than a billion euros to build, will be used to study the detailed structure of matter, atom by atom.The facility, which has cost more than a billion euros to build, will be used to study the detailed structure of matter, atom by atom.
It is called the European X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL).It is called the European X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL).
Scientists say the way it shines light on targets will permit, for example, chemical bonds to be filmed in the instant that they are made or broken.Scientists say the way it shines light on targets will permit, for example, chemical bonds to be filmed in the instant that they are made or broken.
The researchers anticipate fundamental discoveries that lead to new medical treatments and novel materials, to name just two possibilities.The researchers anticipate fundamental discoveries that lead to new medical treatments and novel materials, to name just two possibilities.
The XFEL will begin operations with 11 nations as members of its consortium. Britain, which has supplied equipment to the facility, is expected to sign commitment papers to join the group before the end of the year.The XFEL will begin operations with 11 nations as members of its consortium. Britain, which has supplied equipment to the facility, is expected to sign commitment papers to join the group before the end of the year.
Prof Robert Feidenhans'l is the MD of the non-profit company established to run the facility.Prof Robert Feidenhans'l is the MD of the non-profit company established to run the facility.
"It's a fantastic and exciting day for us to open the European XFEL for operation after more than eight years of construction," he told Friday's inauguration ceremony."It's a fantastic and exciting day for us to open the European XFEL for operation after more than eight years of construction," he told Friday's inauguration ceremony.
"I now declare we are ready to take data; we are ready to meet the challenge of getting groundbreaking results.""I now declare we are ready to take data; we are ready to meet the challenge of getting groundbreaking results."
Atomic patternsAtomic patterns
The machine is a superconducting linear accelerator that is housed in a 3.4km-long tunnel complex some 40m beneath Hamburg and the nearby town of Schenefeld.The machine is a superconducting linear accelerator that is housed in a 3.4km-long tunnel complex some 40m beneath Hamburg and the nearby town of Schenefeld.
It works by accelerating bunches of electrons to almost light-speed, before then throwing them down a slalom course controlled by a system of magnets, known as undulators.It works by accelerating bunches of electrons to almost light-speed, before then throwing them down a slalom course controlled by a system of magnets, known as undulators.
As the electrons bend and turn, they emit flashes of X-rays; and as the particles interact with this radiation, they also bunch even tighter.As the electrons bend and turn, they emit flashes of X-rays; and as the particles interact with this radiation, they also bunch even tighter.
Their compact configuration not only intensifies their light emission but gives it coherence as well. In essence, the X-rays are "in sync" and have the properties of laser light.Their compact configuration not only intensifies their light emission but gives it coherence as well. In essence, the X-rays are "in sync" and have the properties of laser light.
The beam will penetrate and detail at the atomic scale whatever is put in its path.The beam will penetrate and detail at the atomic scale whatever is put in its path.
This could be the protein molecules that drive our bodies or the catalyst materials used to produce industrial chemicals.This could be the protein molecules that drive our bodies or the catalyst materials used to produce industrial chemicals.
How to produces super-bright flashesHow to produces super-bright flashes
Many nations around the world use circular machines called synchrotrons that do a very similar job.Many nations around the world use circular machines called synchrotrons that do a very similar job.
But light generated by the XFEL is about a billion times brighter than those facilities. What also sets the XFEL apart is the super-fast time structure in its flashes.But light generated by the XFEL is about a billion times brighter than those facilities. What also sets the XFEL apart is the super-fast time structure in its flashes.
The machine will deliver 100 billion trillion (ten to the power of 23) X-ray photons in a pulse lasting just 50 femtoseconds (50 quadrillionths of a second, or 50 times ten to the power of minus 15), and it can repeat this 27,000 times a second. The machine will deliver 100 billion trillion (100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000) X-ray photons in a pulse lasting just 50 femtoseconds (0.000,000,000,000,05), and it can repeat this 27,000 times a second.
It allows for time-resolved investigations that are beyond what is possible on standard synchrotrons. For example, scientists will stream their samples in front of the beam, priming them with another laser so that chemical reactions can be caught as they unfold. It allows for time-resolved investigations that are beyond what is possible on standard synchrotrons. For example, scientists will use a jet to stream their samples in front of the beam, priming them with another laser so that chemical reactions are triggered at the right moment to be caught by the pulses.
The conventional X-ray light sources in general also have to crystallise the biological molecules they want to study. This is very difficult and time-consuming.The conventional X-ray light sources in general also have to crystallise the biological molecules they want to study. This is very difficult and time-consuming.
"The huge hope for XFEL is that we will be able to do single particle imaging. So, you just put a stream of your protein complex or virus into the beam and you'd have enough photons that an individual biological entity would scatter those photons for you to get the shape of it," explained Oxford University's Prof Elspeth Garman, who sits on the committee that will allocate beam time in Germany. "The huge hope for XFEL is that we will be able to do single particle imaging. So, you just put a stream of your protein complex or virus into the beam and you'd have enough photons that an individual biological entity would scatter those photons for you to get the shape of it," explained Oxford University's Prof Elspeth Garman, who sits on the committee that will allocate scientists experimental time in Hamburg.
It is a role she already fulfils for the American machine at the National Accelerator Laboratory in Stanford University, California. This facility is now heavily oversubscribed and so the addition of the European option - which is also a step on in capability - will be most welcome.It is a role she already fulfils for the American machine at the National Accelerator Laboratory in Stanford University, California. This facility is now heavily oversubscribed and so the addition of the European option - which is also a step on in capability - will be most welcome.
Germany not only hosts the XFEL, it has provided most of the funding and the technology. The other members are Russia, Denmark, France, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.Germany not only hosts the XFEL, it has provided most of the funding and the technology. The other members are Russia, Denmark, France, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
When the project was green-lit in 2007, the UK looked certain to become a consortium member, but then stepped away from participation after the financial crash.When the project was green-lit in 2007, the UK looked certain to become a consortium member, but then stepped away from participation after the financial crash.
This situation has now changed again and following a brief discussion about whether it should build its own machine, Britain is expected to formally climb aboard the German-led project in the coming weeks.This situation has now changed again and following a brief discussion about whether it should build its own machine, Britain is expected to formally climb aboard the German-led project in the coming weeks.
The in-out uncertainty, however, has not stopped UK technical contributions.The in-out uncertainty, however, has not stopped UK technical contributions.
British engineers have made an advanced camera called the Large Pixel Detector which has been installed in Hamburg ready for the first raft of experiments. It operates at a frame rate of 4.5MHz - 4.5 million pictures per second.British engineers have made an advanced camera called the Large Pixel Detector which has been installed in Hamburg ready for the first raft of experiments. It operates at a frame rate of 4.5MHz - 4.5 million pictures per second.
Matthew Hart was the lead engineer on the LPD at the Science and Technology Facilities Council's (STFC) Rutherford Appleton Laboratory near Oxford.Matthew Hart was the lead engineer on the LPD at the Science and Technology Facilities Council's (STFC) Rutherford Appleton Laboratory near Oxford.
"The LPD captures the pattern of the X-rays after they've scattered through whatever it is the scientists have put in the beam. Its imaging surface is about half a metre by half a metre," he told BBC News."The LPD captures the pattern of the X-rays after they've scattered through whatever it is the scientists have put in the beam. Its imaging surface is about half a metre by half a metre," he told BBC News.
"It's something we've been working on for 10 years, and it's incredibly bespoke. It has to run really fast, handle really intense levels of X-rays but at the same time capture very small signals as well; and have very low noise.""It's something we've been working on for 10 years, and it's incredibly bespoke. It has to run really fast, handle really intense levels of X-rays but at the same time capture very small signals as well; and have very low noise."
The laboratory is currently making a second detector, or at least the replacement parts for one.The laboratory is currently making a second detector, or at least the replacement parts for one.
The XFEL's high-energy beam is so intense it actually destroys samples as it probes them, and it is expected the cameras that record the action will also become degraded over time.The XFEL's high-energy beam is so intense it actually destroys samples as it probes them, and it is expected the cameras that record the action will also become degraded over time.
Japan also operates an XFEL although its flash rate is not as high as the Stanford machine and a long way short of the Hamburg capability. Japan, too, operates a free electron laser, although its flash rate is not as high as the Stanford machine and a long way short of the Hamburg capability.
The European XFEL is not an EU institution, although many of the scientists who come through the complex will be in receipt of EU grants dispersed under its research budget, Horizon 2020.The European XFEL is not an EU institution, although many of the scientists who come through the complex will be in receipt of EU grants dispersed under its research budget, Horizon 2020.
Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmosJonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos