MEXT has released a report from a task force recommending that the large synchrotron radiation facility known as 'SPring-8' be upgraded. It will undergo a major renovation to increase its brightness to more than 100 times its current level, achieving the world's highest performance. The upgrade is targeted to be in service in FY2029.
SPring-8 has contributed to research and development across diverse fields, spanning from life sciences to geochemistry and materials science. On the other hand, similar large X-ray synchrotron radiation facilities are in operation in other countries as well, and upgrades to fourth-generation synchrotron radiation facilities and new construction projects are underway.
The European ESRF-EBS became operational in 2020, the US APS-U is set to begin operation next year, China's HEPS (a new construction project) is scheduled for completion in 2025, and Germany's PETRA IV is projected to be operational in 2028.
Continuing to utilize the current third-generation SPring-8 facility without upgrading it raises concerns in that not only could Japan risk falling behind in international brain circulation, but that Japanese researchers and companies may also be compelled to rely on overseas facilities. Additionally, there is a potential risk of sensitive information leakage due to the disclosure of analysis targets required when using the overseas facilities.
It has been 26 years since SPring-8 began operation. As it ages, maintenance costs are on the rise, and the electricity expenses of the accelerators have become inefficient, resulting in an annual electricity bill of 2 to 3 billion yen. In addition, emerging challenges in new domains, such as advancements in new industries that demand DX and data-driven development, as well as the necessity for non-destructive observation of real-world phenomena (operando measurement), underscore the need for capabilities to acquire high-resolution and large volumes of data. Therefore, SPring-8 will begin the development of advanced technologies in the upcoming fiscal year, with the aim of starting operations in 2029.
The upgrade project has a one-year prototype production and a four-year maintenance and construction period, with a one-year shutdown scheduled for late 2027 to early 2028. This will raise the current maximum brightness from 7 to 863, which is more than double the maximum brightness of 325 achieved after the U.S. facility's upgrade. Electricity costs are also expected to be reduced by approximately 1 billion yen.
Around 2030, next-generation semiconductors (with gate length in the 2-nanometer class) are expected to be mass-produced in Japan. Moreover, next-generation semiconductors are expected to move toward 3D integration, necessitating non-destructive internal structure analysis and device observation during operation. In addition to the widespread adoption of fuel cells and the practical utilization of all-solid-state batteries, the evaluation of physical properties and molecular structures will also gain significance in the fields of bio-manufacturing and the circular economy. In this context, there is a sincere hope for the establishment of an environment that allows Japan to take a leading role on the global stage.
This article has been translated by JST with permission from The Science News Ltd. (https://sci-news.co.jp/). Unauthorized reproduction of the article and photographs is prohibited.