About Diamond Light Source
Sitting at the heart of Harwell Campus, the Diamond Light Source is the UK’s national synchrotron science facility — often described as a “giant microscope.”
Inside its distinctive doughnut-shaped building, electrons are accelerated to near the speed of light, producing brilliant beams of X-rays, infrared, and ultraviolet light.
These beams are directed into specialised laboratories, where scientists from across the world use them to study the structure and behaviour of materials at the atomic and molecular level.
The applications of Diamond’s work are wide-ranging. Researchers have uncovered vital insights into viruses and vaccine design, contributed to cleaner energy technologies, and advanced everything from aerospace engineering to cultural heritage preservation.
With over 10,000 users from academia and industry, the facility operates as a true hub of innovation, offering access to world-class tools that few institutions can match.
Diamond Light Source is also deeply connected to the wider community. Public open days, school visits, and outreach programmes help to demystify science and inspire the next generation of researchers.
In little more than a decade, it has established itself as a cornerstone of the UK’s research infrastructure, enabling discoveries that shape medicine, technology, and our understanding of the natural world.
