![description or caption](images/6.jpg) |
Example
shown is Si 111 (top) and Si 100
(bottom) |
Synchrotrons produce a unique type
of radiationcontinuous across
the spectrum and tunable to the desired
wavelengthemitted by electrons
accelerated in a magnetic field. For
two decades, the Office of Science
has been the major supporter of U.S.
synchrotron light sources. It currently
operates four, each with unique capabilities,
used by a total of more than 6,000
researchers annually from academia,
government, and industry. The four
are the Advanced Light Source at Lawrence
Berkeley National Laboratory, Advanced
Photon Source at Argonne National
Laboratory, National Synchrotron Light
Source at Brookhaven National Laboratory,
and Stanford Synchrotron Radiation
Laboratory at Stanford Linear Accelerator
Center. Scientists at these sites
helped pioneer many synchrotron innovations
that are widely used today, including
a lattice of magnets that increased
brightness (photon density) by two
orders of magnitude; "insertion" devices
(linear arrays of magnets called wigglers
and undulators) that oscillate the
path of the electron beam to generate
X-ray and ultraviolet light that is
high in flux (number of photons) and
collimation (parallel alignment of
photons); and powerful experimental
techniques such as X-ray scattering
and X-ray microscopy.
Scientific Impact:
These innovations made new science
possible and paved the way for significant
extensions of light source performance
that have had a broad and deep impact
on the understanding of matter. Synchrotrons
are used for cutting-edge research
in materials science, physical and
chemical science, geosciences, environmental
science, bioscience, and medical and
pharmaceutical science.
Social Impact: Synchrotron
research affects society in areas
such as information and energy technologies.
For example, recent high-resolution
imaging of thin films of copper may
assist in the development of ultrahigh-density
computer hard drives, and imaging
of contaminants in solar cells and
their removal by heat treatment may
lead to more efficient and less costly
solar energy.
Reference: Scientific
Research Facilities: A National Resource,
Office of Basic Energy Sciences, http://www.sc.doe.gov/production/bes/Brochures.htm
P. A. Montano and H. Oyanagi, "In
Situ Synchrotron Radiation research
in Materials Science," MRS Bulletin,
(24) 13-20 (January 1999).
W.Yun et al., "S-ray Imaging and Microspectroscopy
of Plants and Fungi," J. Synchrotron
Rad., (5) 1390-1395 (1998).
URL: http://www.bnl.gov/bnlweb/facilities/NSLS.html
http://www-als.lbl.gov/
http://www-ssrl.slac.stanford.edu/welcome.html
http://www.aps.anl.gov/aps.php
Technical Contact:
Don Freeburn, Office of Basic Energy
Sciences, 301-903-3156
Press Contact: Jeff
Sherwood, DOE Office of Public Affairs,
202-586-5806
SC-Funding Office:
Office of Basic Energy Sciences |