University of Liverpool signs access agreement with Dalton Cumbrian Facility

The University of Liverpool has signed an access agreement to use the University of Manchester’s Dalton Cumbrian Facility (DCF).

Liverpool is the first university to formally gain access to the DCF which opened in September 2013.

Facilities available at the DCF include a self-shielded Cobalt-60 irradiator and a 5MV Pelletron accelerator capable of providing a beam of 10MeV protrons or 15MeV helium ions. 

Professor Eann Patterson, from the University’s School of Engineering, said: “Access to DCF along with the National Nuclear Laboratory’s Central Laboratory and the THOR research reactor at National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan provide a unique set of research opportunities for University staff and post-graduate students in the fields of nuclear science and engineering.” 

Researchers from across the University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering will be working on a number of research projects at the DCF.  These include innovative gamma ray detection systems;  automated formal verification of software and processes; robust design of nuclear systems; catastrophe modelling for decision-making; simulation of filtration systems; and spent fuel disposal operations.

Professor Andrew Sherry, Director of Manchester’s Dalton Nuclear Institute, said: "We are delighted to welcome Liverpool University as a user of the Dalton Cumbrian Facility at a time when nuclear R&D is recognised as a critical component of the UK's Nuclear Industrial Strategy. We look forward to building a fruitful collaboration in nuclear research and skills development."

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Notes for editors

For further information contact:

Aeron Haworth
Media Relations
Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
The University of Manchester

Tel: 0161 275 8387
Email: aeron.haworth@manchester.ac.uk