Linear Accelerator
Producing brilliant x-ray beams at the APS begins with electrons emitted from a cathode heated to ~1100° C. The electrons are accelerated by high-voltage alternating electric fields in a linear accelerator (linac; photo below). Selective phasing of the electric field accelerates the electrons to 450 million volts (MeV). At 450 MeV, the electrons are relativistic: they are traveling at >99.999% of the speed of light, which is 299,792,458 meters/ second (186,000 miles/second).
The APS Linear Accelerator and its location at the APS (inset)