A blast of neutrons reveals the internal structure of matter - in this case an aircraft wing. Lower-energy neutrons will be used at the new ISIS facility to probe more delicate biological structures. Photograph: Frank Baron/The Guardian
A "giant microscope" that relies on high energy neutrons to peer inside matter was switched on today. The first neutrons were detected at the ISIS Second Target Station at 13.08 BST meaning that a significant technical hurdle in the £146m project has been cleared.
The extension to ISIS - at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory at Harwell - is one of the government's 10 big-ticket science projects that are either under construction or recently completed. Another on the list is the UK's fastest super-computer.
ISIS works by creating a stream of neutrons that blast the material being studied. How they are scattered by the internal molecular structure gives clues to what is going on inside. In particular, the new facility will be set up to create neutrons at lower speed and lower energy, which are more effective for looking at biological molecules. Examples include the interaction between viruses and cell membranes or the action of natural chemicals that allow the lungs of newborn babies to operate.
Dr Andrew Taylor, Director of ISIS said:
The first neutrons met all of our technical performance predicitions and creating them is a significant milestone in the life of the facility and in the completion of the project. The ISIS Second Target Station builds on the success and expertise we have developed over the past 20 years at ISIS and allows us to move further into the areas of soft matter, advanced materials and bioscience.
The facility is funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council.
