Exploiting XMaS Studies of Highly Correlated Electron Systems, Real Surfaces and Biomaterials

Funding is requested for a third operational period of the UK CRG XMaS at ESRF, which provides a facility for internationally competitive SR-based diffraction studies for over a dozen UK research groups predominantly from university Physics, and Chemistry departments. The beamline, which opened to users in 1998, is staffed by a team of 5 based at ESRF and co-directed from Liverpool (CA Lucas) and Warwick (MJ Cooper) and has been supported by two successive 5yr EPSRC operational grants to date. It is distinguished by its unique sample environment and analysis facilities, especially low temperature high magnetic field and polarisation analysis which have led to highlighted resonant x-ray diffraction work on in highly correlated systems such as magnets, superconductors and CMR compounds, rare earth and actinide multilayers, establishing details of the charge ordering and the electronic structure. In addition non resonant scattering from real surfaces has ranged from quantum dots to self organised arrays and the study of electrolysis in relationship to electrocatalyis and the corrosion of cultural heritage objects; in addition the beam line accommodates diverse work on biomaterials (strain in dentine, scattering signatures of biological tissue).The beamline, which is a mature facility, will work with the emerging UK facility DIAMOND, which cannot provide comparable research facilities in the period in question for the size and diversity of the UK community, to ensure a comprehensive provision for the UK community and transfer of know-how via a joint PDRA appointment.