ESS, MAX IV and Lund University start first joint laboratory

The European Spallation Source, MAX IV Laboratory and the Division of Nuclear Physics at Lund University start the first joint laboratory.
The new laboratory is the first step towards the building-up of joint
infrastructure in the future Science City to be located between MAX IV and ESS.

The Joint Detector Laboratory will be the first facility shared by ESS, MAX IV and Lund University. In the laboratory, novel types of detectors suitable for the future ESS and MAX IV facilities will be developed.

ESS and MAX IV will be complementary research facilities. In order to fully make use of the potential scientific synergies of these two leading research facilities, initiatives are being taken to strengthen the scientific exchange between MAX IV, ESS and Lund University. The development of joint infrastructures, such as joint laboratories, is one part of this.

- The Joint Detector Laboratory will be an important step in the process of bringing ESS and MAX IV closer. It will also serve as example for how competences and infrastructure at a university can benefit the MAX IV and ESS facilities, says Jesper Andersen, Science Director at the MAX IV Laboratory.

ESS will have around 30 times higher neutron flux than existing neutron sources, which makes it a particular challenge to build detectors. Building the MAX IV detectors pose a similar challenge, since MAX IV will have the most brilliant synchrotron light of any X-ray research facility. The Photonuclear Group of the Division of Nuclear Physics, based at the existing MAX-lab, has vast experience of photon and neutron detector development.

In the Joint Detector Laboratory, novel types of detectors will be developed and built. Through collaborating, all three parties will benefit from the sharing of knowledge and resources.

- This is particularly important to ESS for several reasons. Firstly, this is the first ESS laboratory and our first physical infrastructure here in Lund. In fact, we consider this as a first step towards Science City. Secondly, detector development is crucial to ESS, and we need to build up expertise here in Lund, says Richard Hall-Wilton, Group Leader for the ESS Detector Group.

- There are large similarities between detectors for X-rays, neutrons and nuclear physics. The pooling of equipment and skills will mean that we can develop better detectors, says Dr Kevin Fissum at the Photonuclear group at Lund University.

The first stage in the collaboration will mean sharing the existing detector laboratory at MAX-lab. In a second stage, during 2012, the activities will be significantly expanded.

Detectors are essential equipment in laboratories using particles or light to study different materials. The detectors measure how the neutrons or the synchrotron light interact with the scientist's sample. Thus they are crucial for the gathering of information that will enable understanding of the characteristics of the sample.

The Joint Detector Laboratory will be operated by the MAX IV Laboratory, ESS and the Division of Nuclear Physics at Lund University. Science City is the area planned to be built between ESS and MAX IV. Science City will host laboratories and other infrastructure jointly operated by ESS and MAX IV, and other activities related to research and development.

For more information, please contact:

• ESS: Richard Hall-Wilton, Group Leader Detector Group. richard.hall-wilton@esss.se, +46-(0)46-222 67 48
• ESS: Marianne Ekdahl, Communications Officer Press & Politics. marianne.ekdahl@esss.se, +46-(0)46-222 83 89
• MAX IV Laboratory: Jesper Andersen, science director. jesper.andersen@maxlab.lu.se, +46-(0)702-16 92 96
• Lund University, Physics department: dr Kevin Fissum,. kevin.fissum@nuclear.lu.se, +46-(0)708-32 33 09