Specialised Imaging reports on how UK academic research groups have benefited from use of its SIM series ultra-high speed imaging camera.
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)  has since 1985 offered UK academic institutions free loans of the latest scientific instruments to help further their research projects. In 2008 the EPSRC added a state-of-the-art SIM16 ultra-high speed imaging camera from Specialised Imaging Ltd. to its loan pool facility. 
Wai Chan, Managing Director of Specialised Imaging commented "Over the last 7 years the EPSRC Loan Pool SIM16 camera has helped UK researchers undertake ground breaking experimentation.  In the area of material science the camera has been extensively used to study crack propagation and deformation. An electrical discharge/pulse power research group has used the SIM16 to look at the initiation of the electrical discharge process. Biomedical scientists studying cavitation have used the camera to visualize and measure oscillation within a bubble and to reveal how these transient bubbles collapse. Other fundamental research groups looking to better understand the physics behind different events have benefited from the ultra high-speed visualization and analysis capabilities of the SIM16 camera”.
Through continuous innovative technical development the SIM framing camera range has established itself as the leading ultra- high speed camera for industrial and academic research groups around the world. Applications for ultra high speed multiple framing cameras include material studies (impact mechanics, crack propagation, impact deformation), automotive (combustion research), aerospace (stress failure, aerodynamic performance), high voltage electrical discharge research, plasma display studies and micro-device research (dynamics of operation). Capable of capturing images at 1,000,000,000 frames per second, with gating down to 3ns, the specialised Imaging SIM16 takes the capture of images for accurate, high-speed spatial analysis of fast transient events to a new level. Unlike the traditional high-speed framing cameras the unique optical design of the SIM16 is able to capture data from 16 separate optical channels without compromising performance or image quality. Focusing functions can be controlled locally at the camera, whilst full remote operation is achieved over standard Ethernet cabling, which enables the SIM16 to be easily integrated into almost any environment. Optional fibre optic communications are available when the camera is used in electrically noisy environments. Comprehensive operational software provides simple control of imaging parameters and extensive measurement tools to accurately analyse results. Image archiving in a wide range of industry standard file formats is supported.
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is the UK's main agency for funding research in engineering and the physical sciences. EPSRC invests around £800 million a year in research and postgraduate training, to help the UK handle the next generation of technological change. Unfortunately, the future of the EPSRC loan pool (http://eip.stfc.ac.uk/cgi-bin/eip_availchart.pl) is currently uncertain.  In this eventuality -Specialised Imaging Ltd. offers a camera rental service.