View source for Organization:Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

{{Short description|British scientific research laboratory}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox laboratory
|name             = Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
|image            = RutherfordAppletonLaboratoryAerial.jpg
|image_upright    = 1.15
|caption          = Aerial view of Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
|established      = {{Start date|1957}}
|lab_type         = National scientific research laboratory
|budget           = 
|research_field   = {{Plainlist|
* [[Applied science]]
* Fundamental science
}}
|director         = 
|staff            = 1,200
|city             = Chilton, Oxfordshire
|country          = England
|location_map     = Oxfordshire
|coordinates      = {{coord|51|34|24|N|1|18|53|W|region:GB-OXF_type:landmark_source:dewiki|display=inline.title}}
|operating_agency = Science and Technology <br />Facilities Council
|website          = {{URL|https://www.ukri.org/about-us/stfc/locations/rutherford-appleton-laboratory/}}
}}

The '''Rutherford Appleton Laboratory''' ('''RAL''') is one of the national scientific research laboratories in the UK operated by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.stfc.ac.uk/ | date = 23 June 2005 | title = Science and Technology Facilities Council |publisher=Science and Technology Facilities Council |access-date=2 November 2008}}</ref> It began as the '''Rutherford High Energy Laboratory''', merged with the [[Organization:Atlas Computer Laboratory|Atlas Computer Laboratory]] in 1975 to create the '''Rutherford Lab'''; then in 1979 with the Appleton Laboratory to form the current laboratory.

It is located on the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus at Chilton near Didcot in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. It has a staff of approximately 1,200 people who support the work of over 10,000 scientists and engineers, chiefly from the university research community. The laboratory's programme is designed to deliver trained manpower and economic growth for the UK as the result of achievements in science.

==History==
RAL is named after the [[Physicist|physicist]]s [[Biography:Ernest Rutherford|Ernest Rutherford]] and [[Biography:Edward Victor Appleton|Edward Appleton]].

The National Institute for Research in Nuclear Science (NIRNS) was formed in 1957 to operate the Rutherford High Energy Laboratory established next to the [[Organization:Atomic Energy Research Establishment|Atomic Energy Research Establishment]] on the former RAF Harwell airfield between Chilton and Harwell. The 50 MeV [[Physics:Proton|proton]] linear accelerator<ref>{{Cite journal | date = January 1955 | title = Proton linear accelerators for nuclear research, and the A.E.R.E. 600 MeV project | journal = Il Nuovo Cimento | volume = 2 | issue = S1 | pages = 413–422 | doi = 10.1007/BF02746099 | last1 = Pickavance | first1 = T. G. | bibcode = 1955NCim....2S.413P | s2cid = 123530554 }}</ref> was transferred from the [[Organization:Atomic Energy Research Establishment|Atomic Energy Research Establishment]] to the new laboratory to become a national facility for particle physics as the [[Organization:Nimrod (synchrotron)|Nimrod]]. Some components of this linear accelerator are still operating as part of the [[Physics:ISIS neutron source|ISIS Neutron and Muon Source]] injector linac over 50 years after their first use.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.isis.stfc.ac.uk/learning/video/inside-the-isis-linear-particle-accelerator11761.html | date = 6 March 2011 | title = Inside the ISIS linear particle accelerator |publisher=Science and Technology Facilities Council |access-date=17 July 2012}}</ref> Since then the laboratory has grown both with the expansion of its established facilities, and the incorporation of facilities from other institutions to provide the benefits from [[Finance:Economies of scale|economies of scale]]. The major mergers were in 1975 with the adjacent [[Organization:Atlas Computer Laboratory|Atlas Computer Laboratory]] creating the Rutherford Laboratory, and then in 1979 with the Appleton Laboratory to form the current Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. With the closure of the Royal Greenwich Observatory in 1998, some small offices also moved to RAL. Similarly, laser technology moved to RAL from [[Physics:Joint European Torus|Joint European Torus]] at Culham to become the foundation of the Central Laser Facility.

To be able to decide the priorities for government funding across all areas of scientific research, the Science & Technology Act of 1965<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.opsi.gov.uk/RevisedStatutes/Acts/ukpga/1965/plain/cukpga_19650004_en | date = 23 March 1965 | title = Science & Technology Act, 1965 |publisher=Office of Public Sector Information |access-date=6 June 2009}}</ref> created the Science Research Council (SRC) which took over management of the Rutherford High Energy Laboratory from NIRNS along with many other previously disparate UK science bodies. To prioritise economic impact over [[Blue skies research|blue skies research]], the SRC became the [[Organization:Science and Engineering Research Council|Science and Engineering Research Council]] (SERC) in the early 1980s, and in 1994,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1994/Uksi_19940611_en_1.htm#tcon | date = 5 March 1994 | title = The Research Councils, (Transfer of Property etc) Order 1994 |publisher=Office of Public Sector Information |access-date=6 June 2009}}</ref> the SERC was eventually divided into three Research Councils (the [[Organization:Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council|EPSRC]], [[Organization:Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council|PPARC]] and the CCLRC – which took responsibility for RAL from EPSRC in 1995<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1995/Uksi_19950630_en_1.htm | date = 3 March 1995 | title = The Research Councils, (Transfer of Property etc) Order 1995 |publisher=Office of Public Sector Information |access-date=6 June 2009}}</ref>), so that each could then focus its development around one of three incompatible business models – administratively efficient short duration grant distribution, medium term commitments to international agreements, long-term commitments to staff and facilities provision. To unify the planning of the provision for UK scientists to access large national and international facilities,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2007/pdf/uksi_20070279_en.pdf | date = 7 February 2007 | title = The Science and Technology Facilities Council Order 2007 |publisher=Office of Public Sector Information |access-date=6 June 2009}}</ref> in 2007 the CCLRC merged with PPARC and incorporated the [[Physics:Nuclear physics|nuclear physics]] discipline from EPSRC to create the Science and Technology Facilities Council which then took responsibility for RAL.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2007/pdf/uksi_20070770_en.pdf | date = 8 March 2007 | title = The Research Councils, (Transfer of Property etc) Order 2007 |publisher=Office of Public Sector Information |access-date=6 June 2009}}</ref>

==Facilities==
The site hosts some of the UK's major scientific facilities, including:

* the [[Physics:ISIS neutron source|ISIS Neutron and Muon Source]] (1984), a [[Physics:Spallation|spallation]] [[Physics:Neutron source|neutron source]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://stfc.ukri.org/files/impact-publications/isis-neutron-and-muon-source-lifetime-impact-report/|title=ISIS Lifetime Impact Study|website=stfc.ukri.org|access-date=17 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url =https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1961/mar/14/nuclear-research-nimrod-proton | date = 14 March 1961 | title = Commons Hansard |publisher=House of Commons | work =Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) |access-date=6 June 2009}}</ref>
* the Central Laser Facility, providing access to large scale laser systems for researchers from the United Kingdom and other EU countries.<ref>{{cite web | url =http://www.clf.rl.ac.uk/ | date = April 2007 | title = Central Laser Facility |publisher= Science and Technology Facilities Council |access-date=2 November 2008}}</ref>
* the [[Organization:Diamond Light Source|Diamond Light Source]] [[Physics:Synchrotron|synchrotron]], which officially opened in January 2007.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1999/nov/25/synchrotron | date = 25 November 1999| title = Hansard vol 339 c164W |website=Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)  |access-date=6 June 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/2000/apr/18/synchrotron | date = 18 April 2000| title = Hansard vol 348 c424W |website=Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)  |access-date=6 June 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm199900/cmhansrd/vo000523/text/00523w20.htm |date=23 May 2000 |website=Hansard |title=Written Answers for 23 May 2000 |access-date=6 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605032501/http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm199900/cmhansrd/vo000523/text/00523w20.htm |archive-date=5 June 2011 }}</ref>

Also hosted are:
* Microelectronics Support Centre (MSC)
* [[Organization:National Grid Service|NGS]] UK national academic computing grid
* [[Organization:GridPP|GridPP]]'s Tier1 computing centre
* Energy Research Unit<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.eru.rl.ac.uk/  | date = 23 June 2005 | title = Energy Research Unit |publisher=Science and Technology Facilities Council |access-date=2 November 2008}}</ref>
* various other resources and services in [[Engineering:Microelectronics|microelectronics]], [[Physics:Atmospheric science|atmospheric science]]s, [[Physics:Spectroscopy|spectroscopy]] and [[Engineering:Renewable energy|renewable energy]] research.

==Programmes==
In addition to hosting facilities for the UK, RAL also operates departments to co-ordinate the UK programme of participation in major international facilities. The largest of these are the areas of [[Physics:Particle physics|particle physics]], and [[Astronomy:Space science|space science]].

In [[Physics:Particle physics|particle physics]] the largest international project is the [[Physics:Large Hadron Collider|Large Hadron Collider]] at [[Organization:CERN|CERN]], but RAL has a major role in the UK participation in several other projects such as:<ref>{{cite web | url = http://hepwww.rl.ac.uk/ | date = 23 June 2005 | title = Particle Physics Department | publisher = Science and Technology Facilities Council | access-date = 2 November 2008 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081219072104/http://hepwww.rl.ac.uk/ | archive-date = 19 December 2008 }}</ref>

* the [[Physics:MINOS|MINOS]] – Main Injector Neutrino Oscillation Search,
* the T2K – to measure the third type of neutrino oscillation,
* experiments to measure the electric dipole moment of the neutron at the [[Physics:Institut Laue–Langevin|Institut Laue–Langevin]],
* [[Physics:International Muon Ionization Cooling Experiment|International Muon Ionization Cooling Experiment]],
* the [[Physics:UK Dark Matter Collaboration|UK Dark Matter Collaboration]] experiment at the Boulby Mine in Yorkshire.

In [[Astronomy:Space science|space science]], RAL builds components for, and tests satellites, as well as receiving, analysing and curating the data collected by those spacecraft.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sstd.rl.ac.uk/ |date=23 June 2005 |title=Space Science and Technology Department |publisher=Science and Technology Facilities Council |access-date=2 November 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610002830/http://www.sstd.rl.ac.uk/ |archive-date=10 June 2008 }}</ref> Satellite missions in which RAL has a significant role include:

[[File:The final ALMA front end leaves for Chile.jpg|thumb|The team at the ALMA project's European Front End Integration Centre at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, UK.<ref>{{cite news|title=Final ALMA Front End Delivered|url=http://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann13011/|access-date=3 April 2013|newspaper=ESO}}</ref>]]

* the STEREO Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory,
* the SOHO [[Astronomy:Solar and Heliospheric Observatory|Solar and Heliospheric Observatory]],
* [[Astronomy:Hinode (satellite)|Solar-B]] investigating the Solar Corona,
* Galileo European satellite navigation system,
* MSG-2 meteorological satellite,
* [[Astronomy:Venus Express|Venus Express]] investigating the atmosphere of Venus,
* [[Engineering:TopSat|TopSat]] taking high resolution pictures of the Earth,
* Double Star (Polar) investigating the interaction of the Earth and the Sun,
* [[Engineering:Aura (satellite)|EOS-Aura]] monitoring the global temperature of the Earth's atmosphere,
* [[Engineering:Rosetta (spacecraft)|Rosetta (spacecraft)]] investigating the composition of comets,
* [[Astronomy:Chandrayaan-1|Chandrayaan-1]] mission to investigate the moon,
* [[Astronomy:Herschel Space Observatory|Herschel Space Observatory]] and [[Engineering:Planck (spacecraft)|Planck (spacecraft)]] space telescope.
*[[Engineering:Badr-B|Badr-B]], developed the CCD cameras for the satellite.

==Economic impact==
In recent years, there has been an increasing political drive towards requiring that the science undertaken at RAL and the technology created there result in a proportional economic benefit to the UK to justify the investment of public funds in the laboratory. RAL management has argued that this is achieved in various ways, including:

* From the commercial products and services resulting from the scientific results which are achieved on the facilities at RAL (e.g., through new materials, new drugs etc.).
* Through the early warning of disasters predicted from terrestrial and space data acquired and analysed at RAL (e.g., radio/mobile phone interference predictions, severe weather predictions etc.).
* Through the training of specialist scientists and engineers at RAL, who then move into commercial companies.
* Through the standardisation of technologies which has resulted in the acceleration of economic growth through interoperability and interchangeability of products — especially in computing.
* By the enthusiasm generated in science by the results of large facilities (e.g., from astronomical images or from particle physics experiments), which leads to schoolchildren choosing scientific training and scientific careers in many fields.
* By technologies developed at RAL during the development of facilities themselves, which are then licensed to UK companies, or spin-out companies.

==Decommissioning==
According to its Annual Report from 2017 to 2018, STFC expects the end of the ISIS pulsed neutron source and the associated Second Target Station to be in 2040 and anticipates decommissioning to take 55 years. The cost of radioactive waste disposal could range between £9 million and £16 million.<ref name="annual">{{Cite book |title=Annual Report and Accounts 2017-18 |last=Science and Technology Facilities Council|date= July 2018 |pages=91 |oclc=1053748833 }}</ref>{{rp|51}}

==In popular culture==
RAL was used as a set for the filming of an episode of Terry Nation's BBC TV series ''Blake's 7''.

The [[Computer-generated imagery|computer-generated imagery]] (CGI) for Ridley Scott's 1979 film ''Alien'' were created at the [[Organization:Atlas Computer Laboratory|Atlas Computer Laboratory]] which is now part of RAL.

The Space Science department featured in the "In the Box" episode of the CBeebies series ''Nina and the Neurons''.

==See also==
* [[Organization:Daresbury Laboratory|Daresbury Laboratory]]
* [[Organization:Oak Ridge National Laboratory|Oak Ridge National Laboratory]]
* [[Organization:Argonne National Laboratory|Argonne National Laboratory]]
* [[Physics:Spallation Neutron Source|Spallation Neutron Source]]
* [[Physics:European Spallation Source|European Spallation Source]]
* [[Physics:Institut Laue–Langevin|Institut Laue–Langevin]]
* [[Organization:European Synchrotron Radiation Facility|European Synchrotron Radiation Facility]]
* Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
* [[Physics:List of synchrotron radiation facilities|List of synchrotron radiation facilities]]
* European Space Agency Facilities
* European Research Area
* [[Organization:Diamond Light Source|Diamond Light Source]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.chilton-computing.org.uk/ Computing at Chilton: 1961–2003]
*[http://www.e-science.stfc.ac.uk/ STFC e-Science]
*[http://www.msc.rl.ac.uk/ Microelectronics Support Centre]
*[http://www.europractice.stfc.ac.uk/ EUROPRACTICE Software Service]
*[http://www.ph.utexas.edu/~utlasers/ Texas Center for High Intensity Laser Science]
*[http://skippy.org.uk/ral-trip/ Photos from a recent open day]


[[Category:Nuclear research institutes]]

{{Sourceattribution|Rutherford Appleton Laboratory}}