Ultra-low vibration labs

The experiments are housed in an ultra-low vibration facility which is unique in the UK. The facility is a dedicated building housing four separate rooms, each of which has a floor suspended on air springs to provide for optimum IMG_0624acoustic and vibration isolation. The experiments are controlled from a separate control room, such that user intervention at the experiments is limited to whenever they require maintenance or, e.g., refilling of cryogens.

The building design has been optimized to provide optimum vibration and acoustic isolation. The labs feature four 17t concrete slabs which rest on air springs for vibration isolation as well as a double-walled concrete hull to block out any acoustic noise. While the lab rooms are founded on the bedrock, the reminder of the building is decoupled to ensure that work carried out in the building does not impact on experiments.