New Funding Announced for UK Laser Facility

The next phase of the UK X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL) project “Conceptual Design and Options Analysis” has just been announced.

The project will receive £3.2 M for 3 years to update the Science Case, inform and validate the design and continue to build the community and vision. Although the UK XFEL remains a long way from approval, this is an important next step. The UKRI decision was based on the UK XFEL Science Case which was prepared by a team of UK scientists that included Dr Adam Kirrander from the School of Chemistry and Professor Malcolm McMahon from the School of Physics and Astronomy in Edinburgh.

About the Project

XFELs are large machines that produce coherent X-rays and can be used to study matter simultaneously on spatial and temporal scales.

Such capability allows for a wide range of cutting edge multidisciplinary applications across science and technology, for instance:

• bioscience and healthcare: mapping atomic details of viruses and supporting drug discovery
• net zero growth: providing new approaches for low-cost energy generation and storage technologies
• technology: developing new and advanced materials with direct applicability to:
• industry
• mobility
• digital manufacturing
• nuclear energy
• defense
• fundamental science:offering new processes to study the interior of planets.

Full text is available on the UKRI website