16th of March 2011 at 15:45. A group of scientists and technicians of the ALBA Synchrotron were toasting with cava. Eight years after the project's approval, it was possible to produce and see synchrotron light in the accelerators complex of the facility. That moment was the starting point of the ALBA Synchrotron that, one year later, began the first experiments.
The ALBA Synchrotron is celebrating five years of the commissioning of the accelerator. "It was a very exciting moment because we were testing the work done in previous years and, if everything was right, we would be able to start with the experiments very soon", says Francis Pérez, head of the Accelerators' division and former responsible of the Radiofrequency and Diagnostics section at that time.
ALBA has organised an event with all the staff. It has also counted with the presence of the former responsible of the Accelerators division, Dieter Einfeld. A commemorative video has been done to explain the atmosphere of the moment and the anecdotes that took place. The event has finished with a toast of all the attendees.
"Today is an important day as we celebrate the start-up of the first synchrotron in Spain", says Caterina Biscari, director of the ALBA Synchrotron.
Nowadays, the accelerators' complex of ALBA works about 6,000 hours per year with an availability above 97%. New improvements have been done like the top-up working mode or a new fast orbit feedback system, both to increase beam stability. ALBA is in operation with seven beamlines (or laboratories) which are available to perform experiments in different scientific areas. At the end of 2016, the eighth beamline, devoted to infrared microspectroscopy, will enter in operation. In 2018 and 2020, two new beamlines will be also ready for experiments. ALBA hosts every year more than 1,000 researchers.
Roundtable for celebrating five years of the commissioning of the Storage Ring of ALBA. Next, one moment of the Dieter Einfeld's presentation.
Check the complete photo gallery of the event: https://flic.kr/s/aHskwxztJA
