LNLS performs the first remote experiment with Synchrotron Light
10/06/2010 – Portal Nacional
The Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS) performs with success its first experiment with remote operation: on June 2, a group of researchers of Petrobras, LNLS and other search facilities, gathered at the Brazilian Physics Research Center (CBPF), in Rio de Janeiro, performed some experiments using, remotely, synchrotron beamlines, in Campinas.
The connection between LNLS and CPBF was made through the experimental network of Giga project, an infrastructure with transmission capacity of 1 Gbps, managed in partnership by CPqD and the National Education and Research Network (RNP), the organization also responsible for the Brazilian academic network.
The remote operation project, called LabWeb, is being developed in partnership with the Petrobras Nanotechnology Network. “It was a proof of concept that gave results showing the feasibility of the project", says Harry Westfahl, researcher at the LNLS and part of the team responsible for the experiment.
The LabWeb’s first phase, in a pilot, was developed along six months. It includes the evaluation of technologies and developing a working prototype that gave support to the experiment-test. “On the second step, we will give scale to the project expanding to users of synchrotron beamlines at LNLS”, explains Westfahl.
This project will allow researchers-users to have remote access to the search equipments and to share information. “Several synchrotron laboratories around the world are investing in this, considered, cutting-edge technology”, says Daniela Zanchet, project coordinator. “More than remote operation, we provide tools like web conferencing, chats, audio channel, among others, to increase integration between research groups”.
Marcio Faerman, manager of Research & Development of RNP, observes that the uses of advanced network services, as the end to end circuit provision used at the experiment, will be fundamental to ensure the quality of the real time communication during the remote operation. The RNP’s multi-gigabit network infrastructure opens the door for remote use of synchrotron radiation in Brazil and abroad.
