「ＳＡＣＬＡ（さくら）」始動（"SACLA (Sakura)" Starting）

理化学研究所は６日、兵庫県の播磨科学公園都市に最先端の巨大研究施設「ＳＡＣＬＡ（さくら）」が完成したと発表した。３月から本格稼働する。Ｘ線レーザーと呼ぶ強力な光で、生きた細胞や化学反応が刻々と変化する様子を原子レベルで瞬時にとらえる。三菱重工業や日立金属など日本企業500社の技術力を結集、その性能は欧米の施設をしのぐ。産業界からも、創薬や新素材開発に威力を発揮すると期待されている。Ｘ線レーザーは、透過性に優れたＸ線と、ピンポイントで照射できるレーザーの利点を併せ持つ。Ｘ線撮影のように中身を透かし見ながら、原子の大きさまで観察でき、「夢の光」といわれる。
　ＳＡＣＬＡは欧米の施設に比べて小型で性能が高い。全長は700メートルで、2009年に完成した米国の施設の２キロメートル、13年に稼働する欧州の施設の3.3キロメートルよりもかなり小さい。細かい物を見る性能も米国のほぼ２倍あり、欧州より約３割高い。建設費も約390億円で、米国の約470億円、欧州の900億円以上よりも少ない投資で済んだ。
　これを可能にしたのが日本企業の技術力を結集して開発した線形加速器だ。電子を短距離で光の速度まで高め、品質のそろったＸ線レーザーを作り出すことに成功した。電子を加速する強力なマイクロ波発生装置は東芝が担当、加速部分のシステムは三菱重工が設計した。この装置に使われた銅は日立電線製で、純度を99.99％以上に高めている。
　光速の電子からＸ線レーザーを発生させる装置には、日立金属が開発した磁石が使われた。真空中でも性能が落ちないのが特徴で、装置内部に設置した。外に磁石を並べた欧米の装置よりも強い磁場が発生するため、性能が高まった。まさに、日本の技術の粋を結集した巨大研究施設ですね。創薬や新素材の開発に威力を遺憾なく発揮して世界のリードしてほしいですね。

6 days RIKEN announced that it had completed "(Sakura) SACLA" huge state-of-the-art research facility in Hyogo Prefecture Harimakagakukoentoshi. Go into full-scale operation from March. Referred to as a powerful light ray laser X, instantly capture at the atomic level how the ever-changing living cells and chemical reactions. Mobilize the technical capabilities of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. and Hitachi Metals, Japan, including 500 companies, its performance surpasses the facility of the United States and Europe. From industry, are expected to exert its power in drug discovery and development of new materials. X-ray laser, X-ray and combines excellent transparency, the benefits of the laser can be irradiated with a pin point. While looking at the contents as watermark-ray X, is said to be "the light of Dreams", can be observed up to the size of an atom.
SACLA is a high performance small size compared with facilities in Europe and the United States. Total length is 700 meters, much smaller than 3.3 km of the facility to run two kilometers of European institutions in the United States was completed in 2009, to 13 years. There are almost twice the performance of the United States to see things fine, about 30% higher than Europe. Approximately 39 billion yen in construction costs, approximately 47 billion yen in the United States, done in more than $ 90 billion less than the investment in Europe.
Linear accelerator that was developed by combining the technical capabilities of Japanese companies did to make this possible. Was able to increase the speed of light to electrons at short range, to produce a uniform quality X-ray laser. Powerful microwave generator to accelerate the electronic charge of Toshiba, the acceleration portion of the system was designed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Copper was used in this device is made of Hitachi Cable, Ltd., has been improved to more than 99.99% purity.
The X-ray laser device that raises the speed of light from the electron, the magnet was developed by Hitachi Metals, Ltd. was used. Characterized by performance does not fall even in a vacuum, was placed inside the unit. For strong magnetic field is generated than the magnet device arranged outside of Europe and the United States, performance has increased. However, today is a huge research facility that brings together the best of Japanese technology. I want to lead the world to demonstrate the power without regret to drug discovery and development of new materials.