Our emphasis in the outline proposal for XPDF was the scientific case for building a dedicated PDF facility at DIamond. Our feedback from the SAC suggested strong support for this approach, and we plan to structure our full proposal around the same concept.

SAC feedback on the Outline Proposal:

“The SAC recommended this should go on to a full proposal, to build out a side station on I15 (option II in the outline proposal).

“The XPDF outline is a highly focused and coherent proposal to use high energy x-rays (40 – 80 keV) from a multi-pole wiggler to measure data to high Q to allow reliable Fourier transforms to obtain the PDF. The technique is used heavily in US/UK and not so much in Europe. Two options, an independent beamline and a side station to an existing SCW line (I15), are offered. The SAC feels option 2 is preferred, provided significant disruption of the program at I15 – just now hitting its stride – is minimised. Close consultation is required with the extreme environments group.

“The team makes a strong case for a dedicated PDF facility and this would give Diamond a valuable new capability to complement its powder/Rietveld and single crystal chemical crystallography and materials diffraction (as well as the neutron capabilities at ISIS). The oversubscription rate would grow as more materials scientists use the technique. Collaboration with industry will also probably grow, e.g. in the area of catalysis. The science addressed is interesting and topical. The proposal group includes the major players in the area.”