SESAME inaugurated in Jordan

With Elettra, ICTP and Promoscience, Trieste’s science is in the front line with the Middle East SESAME project launched in Jordan today
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Trieste’s scientific system underlies the new synchrotron light lab SESAME (Synchrotron-Light for Experimental Science), that today has been officially opened near Amman in the presence of the King of Jordan. SESAME (www.sesame.org.jo) is both a major scientific project and an example of peaceful coexistence as it is managed by an autonomous intergovernmental organization of scientists from Countries racked by conflict and tension such as Cyprus, Israel, Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority.
 
Since 2013, the Italian government has allocated 5 m to SESAME through its Ministry of Education, University and Research acknowledging not only its scientific value, but also its role in promoting intercultural dialogue. Trieste’s scientific community plays a major role in the project. In particular, four radio-frequency cavities have been developed by Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste (AREA Science Park) and the National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN) and then built by the Italian industry. Cavities are essential for an accelerator like SESAME, as they can re-supply the electrons with the energy they lose when emitting synchrotron light. Together with Elettra and Italian scientific and technological institutes, INFN will also implement an advanced X-ray detector to be installed on the first beamline under completion in SESAME. This detector will analyse detailed chemical bonds in trace materials, e.g. in soil contamination tests.

Mauro Zambelli, Genaral Coordinator at Elettra Sincrotrone, took part at the inauguration ceremony.

Trieste has also contributed to the SESAME project through the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP). In close collaboration with Elettra, ICTP has provided training activities, organized workshops and conferences, hosted long-term visits, and given grants to SESAME researchers to have access to the beamlines in Trieste’s facility. Overall, more than 200 scientists have benefited from SESAME-related activities promoted and supported by ICTP.
 
Moreover, a web portal for the “Open SESAME” project has been set up by Promoscience, a company based in AREA Science Park. This project is financed by the European Commission and aims at sharing and transferring knowledge on the Middle East synchrotron ring among researchers and potential users. The website www.opensesame-h2020.eu will provide information on training activities on scientific, technical and administrative issues organized by the project.
 
Finally, it is worth mentioning that Giorgio Paolucci, scientific director of SESAME, has long been working in leadership roles at Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste.

Press release by AREA Science Park press office
Last Updated on Monday, 22 May 2017 09:06