Diamond Light Source is a national facility located in Oxfordshire. It is the home of a synchrotron – a huge particle accelerator which produces beams of intense light 10 billion times brighter than the sun. This is achieved by firing electrons round a large ring and syphoning off the results into adjacent laboratories. Readings can then be taken for use in academic and industry research and development.
A vast range of experiments are carried out at Diamond Light Source, ranging from satellite and jet engine design to the analysis of fossils. Medical research is a particularly significant field, and research at the centre has led to many advances including an improved understanding of flu viruses and malaria parasites. Other experiments have seen progress in areas as diverse as biofuels, bumble bee conservation, climate change analysis and the preservation of ancient materials – such as Henry VIII’s warship the Mary Rose.
Opened by the Queen in 2007, this not-for-profit facility has grown to include 32 self-contained laboratories known as beamlines. Companies using the centre have included Rolls Royce, Unilever, GlaxoSmithKline and Johnson Matthey.
During the site’s expansion, Adrian James Acoustics was approached by a major acoustics solutions provider. The brief was to measure laboratory noise and exterior sound.
We visited the site and took detailed measurements, along with careful examination of existing structures. Having assessed these problems, AJA offered a number of solutions. These included specifications for absorbent treatment in excessively reverberant rooms and a recommendation to construct acoustic enclosures for noisy equipment.
With over 14000 researchers using Diamond Light Source every year, the facility plays a key role in the UK’s scientific advancements. AJA is proud to be associated with such an internationally significant institution.