The Purple Book: Science and Technology Programme (2008-2017)

To prepare the ESRF for tomorrow’s science a vigorous programme of instrumentation
development will be needed, encompassing new detectors, focusing optics and beamline
engineering at the nanometre level, and advanced sample environments. Much of this work
should be carried out in partnership with our colleagues from the European network of
synchrotron sources, centres which complement the ESRF and with which the ESRF enjoys
strong scientific and technical links. The comprehensive volume of experience and knowledge
gained during the construction and operation of the ESRF will continue to be of great benefit
to these new sources, providing an invaluable store of scientific and technical know-how.
Our ambitious Upgrade Programme, the ESRF Scientific Programme 2008 - 2017, is the
natural evolution of the scientific challenges described in the Long-Term Strategy document.
The following chapters of this volume provide considerable detail on the ESRF’s new scientific
and technical capabilities. All aspects of the programme are considered, starting with the
new science to be enabled by the Upgrade, the technology, engineering and infrastructure
requirements and, finally, the budget and personnel implications.
This Upgrade Programme is essential to maintain the ESRF’s role as the leading European
provider of hard X-ray light, providing answers to essential future scientific questions, and
safeguarding the large investment by the Member countries. However the programme cannot
be financed from within the ESRF’s current investment budget. Of the total cost of 287 million
euros spread over 10 years, some 210 million euros of new investment is required; the balance
will come from the investment part of the ESRF’s standard budget. This additional investment
will lead to a radically enhanced ESRF with a suite of very long beamlines capable of focusing
to nanometre spot sizes, revolutionary technical infrastructure support, and upgraded high-
reliability accelerators providing even higher brilliance and stability. This programme is
excellent value for money; a new facility providing similar performance for a large number of
specialised beamlines would require investment of the order of 1 to 2 billion euros.
In summary, for a relatively modest investment by the partners of the ESRF, a radically
upgraded hard X-ray synchrotron radiation facility will emerge from the 10 year period of
renewal, during which the Users will still have access to a large fraction of the beamlines. The
renewed and enhanced ESRF will be in excellent shape to face the scientific challenges
(environment, energy, health, new materials ...) of the twenty-first century.