SESAME - A 3rd Generation Synchrotron Light Source for the Middle East
- Hacettepe University, Department of Engineering Physics, Beytepe-06800 Ankara (Turkey)
- Atomic Energy Organization, Nuclear Research Center, P.O. Box 14155-1339 Tehran (Iran, Islamic Republic of)
- Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, 2575 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park CA 94025-7015 (United States)
SESAME (Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East) will be the Middle East's first international research center. It is a cooperative venture by the scientists and governments of the region with founding members Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Pakistan, Palestine Authority, and Turkey. Iran is in the process of finalizing its formal membership. Other countries (Cyprus, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates) are also expected to join. The permanent Council of member states has full responsibility for the project. Members provide the annual operating budget. Observer countries are Germany, Greece, Italy, Kuwait, Portugal, Russian Federation, Sweden, the UK, and the US. SESAME is being developed under the umbrella of UNESCO. Jordan was selected as the building site. SESAME will offer excellent opportunities for training of Middle East scientists and attract those working abroad to consider returning. SESAME will be a 2.5GeV 3rd Generation light source (emittance 26nm-rad, circumference {approx}133m), providing excellent performance for structural molecular biology, molecular environmental science, surface and interface science, microelectromechanical devices, x-ray imaging, archaeological microanalysis, and materials characterization. It will cover a broad spectral range from the infrared to hard x-rays and will have 12 straight sections for insertion devices (average length 2.75m). The injector will be the BESSY I 0.8 GeV booster synchrotron which has been given as a gift from Germany. Four committees advise the Council and assist in developing the technical design, beam lines, user community, and scientific Program. The SESAME building, now in construction with funds and a site provided by Jordan, is scheduled for completion in late 2006 after which the BESSY I injector will be installed. First stored beam in the new 2.5 GeV ring is planned for 2009 with six initial beamlines planned. Some beamlines will be built by member countries. Additional funds to purchase components of the new ring and beamlines are being sought from the EU, the US, and other sources. SESAME has benefited greatly from offers by other light source facilities of equipment and training fellowships in both accelerator technology and applications of synchrotron radiation. Details of this, and other aspects of the training program, are given below. It is hoped that in the future fellowship offers will continue to be made by many light source laboratories to further increase the level of experience with accelerator technology and synchrotron light science in preparation for the start of operation of SESAME.
- OSTI ID:
- 21043416
- Journal Information:
- AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 879, Issue 1; Conference: 9. international conference on synchrotron radiation instrumentation, Daegu (Korea, Republic of), 28 May - 2 Jun 2006; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2436041; (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Collaboration: SESAME Team; ISSN 0094-243X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
SESAME, a Synchrotron Light Source for the Middle East Region
SESAME and beyond