WA invests $5m in synchrotron

Western Australia’s innovation credentials lifted a notch earlier this year as the state joined forces with interstate partners to construct a synchrotron in Victoria.

The Western Australian government, along with the University of Western Australia and Curtin University, has formed a consortium to invest $5 million in Australian Synchrotron project, which is currently being built at Monash University.

The Australian Synchrotron will cost approximately $206.3 million, and is planned to be operational in 2007.

The state of Victoria is investing $157 million in the project.

WA Synchrotron Users Network administrator Professor Brian O’Connor said synchrotron science was fundamentally important to WA as it would provide research into all facets of science from mining, oil and gas through to agriculture.

“A synchrotron is a machine [the shape of a ring] about the size of Subiaco Oval that accelerates electrons to the speed of light,” he said.

Professor O’Connor said magnets were placed around the ring to deflect the electrons down what are known as beamlines to experimental workstations.

Initially the synchrotron will have nine beamlines, but at full capacity there will be more than 30, meaning 30 research projects can be run simultaneously.

The light produced emits various types of radiation, including low-frequency microwaves, infrared, ultraviolet, X-ray and gamma ray radiation.

“The experimental workstations would see research on the radiation for specific fields including agriculture, minerals exploration and engineering,” Professor O’Connor said.

The WA Steering Committee for the Australian Synchrotron project was formed in 2003 and includes UWA, Curtin University, Murdoch University, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Exploration and Mining and CSIRO Minerals.

“The idea of a steering committee is to work with WA universities, industry and the public sector to coordinate participation in the Australian Synchrotron project,” Professor O’Connor said.

The WA Steering Committee is also conducting a mapping exercise linking prospective Australian Synchrotron users and their expertise to WA research areas including energy, minerals, water, climate change, health and ICT.

Professor O’Connor told WA Business News the WASC had provided the government with a plan for the development of the Centre for Synchrotron Science Applications.

“The CSSA will contain a virtual synchrotron and visitor centre,” he said. “It is pretty much a sub-control centre based in Perth where you can do experiments on the synchrotron remotely from Melbourne.

“We have requested funding from the government and hope for a decision by mid year.

“We hope to have the WA centre running by 2007 in line with the start up of the synchrotron in Melbourne.”

Professor O’Connor said the WASC would be hosting a one-day workshop on April 1 to would show those attending how radiation could be used for research purposes.