ESTABLISHMENT OF A PULSE RADIOLYSIS FACILITY ON THE SRS

Pulse radiolysis is a technique for studying short-lived free radicals and excited states using short pulses of electrons. Following the closure of the linac at the Paterson Institute in Manchester [1,2] the electron beam pulse radiolysis detection equipment was transferred to the SRS linac at Daresbury Laboratory and a new facility established. The linac is only used for approximately one hour per day to refill the SRS, leaving the remaining time for pulse radiolysis experimental work. Improvements to the SRS linac have included computer control of pulse length and additional focussing quadrupoles. Extensive modifications to the personnel safety system were required to allow convenient access to the Linac Hall. Measurements of linac performance and initial commissioning results are presented. As the UK synchrotron light source centre, Daresbury also provides wider access to users from a range of research areas and enhanced support laboratories, as well as opportunities for synergy with synchrotron radiation and laser facilities, and has recently received an award of EU funding for international user access to the new radiolysis facility.