Conditions governing the location of a new synchrotron
What is a synchrotron? What is the radiation it produces used for? Why is it an important scientific issue? What is the position of France in this field, and what is the best national or European solution for replacing the obsolete LURE synchrotron and providing French research with the up-to-date resources it needs ? These are some of the questions answered by this report by the Parliamentary Office for the evaluation of scientific and technological choices. For the purposes of their report, the Rapporteurs of the Office, Messrs Christian CUVILLIEZ, deputy, and René TRÉGOUËT, senator, established a working group made up of ten eminent scientists involved in government, university and industrial research and holding contrasting views as to the best decision to be taken regarding this controversial question. Together with these scientists the Rapporteurs questioned over forty experts that utilise synchrotron radiation, as well as French and European scientific leaders, on this subject. The report contains transcripts of these interviews, during which the biggest names in French science gave their views on this question. A report on the public hearings held in the National Assembly on 2nd March 2000 is also included. Finally, to collect concrete information about synchrotrons, the Rapporteurs visited the LURE installations in Orsay, the ESRF in Grenoble, the British SRS synchrotron at Daresbury and the Deutsche Elektronen-Synchrotron in Hamburg. Information on what they found there is also included. It was on the basis of this comprehensive information and after soliciting the views of all concerned that on completion of these investigations the report by Messrs CUVILLIEZ and TRÉGOUËT, unanimously adopted by the Parliamentary Office for the evaluation of scientific and technological choices, concludes that it is essential for a clear decision regarding the construction of a national synchrotron to be taken without delay. This report is the first volume of a wider study the Parliamentary Office has devoted to the role of very large systems in government and private research in France and in Europe.
Short title:
Synchrotron
Start date:
2000-01
End date:
2000-03
Project leader:
Office Parlementaire d´Evaluation des Choix Scientifiques et Technologiques of the French Parliament (OPECST)
Country:
France

 Back