Synchrotron Science - Virtual BeamLine
VeRSI is building an eResearch demonstrator, the Virtual BeamLine, or VBL, at the Australian Synchrotron. It allows researchers using the protein crystallography beamline to view the experiment from a location remote to the synchrotron. They are able to manipulate samples via motor controls, acquire data, transfer data between storage and compute resources and collaborate using voice, video and shared applications. The VBL acts as a model for the design and development of VBLs on other experimental beamlines at the Australian Synchrotron, and other synchrotrons around the world.
In addition to the beamline specific activities, VeRSI is providing an online induction service, allowing visitors to the Australian Synchrotron to undergo safety training before arriving on-site, reducing delays in getting up and running.
VeRSI has built a web and mobile phone interface for the Facility Status Monitor (at left) that was developed by the Synchrotron's Control Systems team.
As an aid to secondary school teachers the eVBL, the Educational Virtual BeamLine, provides remote operation of Thomas Young's classic double slit experiment. Teachers can demonstrate, using visible light from the Australian Synchrotron, the effect of changing slit width and slit separation. A version of this experiment, using electrons rather than light, was voted by the physics community as the most beautiful physics experiment.
For more information contact the Virtual BeamLine Engineer.