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Diamond Light Source Link is the UK's central facility for research with x-rays.

Synchrotrons like this are bright x-ray sources with variable energy, used for experiments in biology, materials science, chemistry, physics , geology and archaeology. Scientists travel to these facilities to set up their experiments during an allocated time slot (typically a few days at a time), sharing the beamlines and other infrastructure provided by the lab.

Diamond was built from 2003, and the first beamlines have become operational in 2007. Since then, new beamlines have been added in three phases, with the last tranche being built in 2015/16. Previously, the UK had a first-generation synchrotron source at Daresbury (Cheshire) Link , which was decommissioned in 2008. The UK also has a share in the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) at Grenoble in the French Alps. In addition, UK scientists frequently use synchrotrons in other countries, and researchers from elsewhere come to Diamond for experiments.

Diamond Light Source isn't generally open to the public, but they offer regular open days and also arrange visits for schools and colleges Link .