As a national user facility the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource invites scientists from all over the world to use our intense X-ray beam and world-class instruments for their experiments.

Latest SLAC information about COVID-19 »

Microstructure within Secondary Particles of Nickel-rich Layered Oxides

SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Targeted for Vaccine

Modern Methods Applied to a Past Poisoning at Minamata Japan

Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

SSRL beam line computer network outage 12/23/2020 8 AM -12 NOON. Remote and local access for beam line PC's and experimental systems will be unavailable during this time.

SSRL will shutdown for the holidays, 12/18/2020-1/4/2021. SPEAR will shutdown for maintenance/upgrades 3/22/2021-5/10/2021.

When we resume operations in January, we anticipate that there will continue to be limits on people allowed onsite due to COVID-19. User experiments will be performed primarily by beam line staff through mail-in samples or remote access. Contact the User Office if you have questions about how COVID-19 impacts your experiments or to request a proposal extension.

In support of COVID-19 related research

Several SSRL beam lines are available to support COVID-19 related work through Rapid Access proposals.

The Stanford-SLAC Cryo-EM research facilities are also operational for COVID-19 related research, see Stanford-SLAC Cryo-EM Center (S2C2) and National Center for Macromolecular Imaging (NCMI).

Department of Energy Basic Energy Sciences light sources want to ensure they are doing everything possible to enable research into this virus and the search for an effective vaccine or other treatment. The DOE supports research into structural biology in partnership with the National Institutes of Health, and other partners. This portal collects relevant structural biology resources in a single location, listing their basic characteristics and a point of contact for each (link is external).

Supporting the User Community

Visiting scientists ("users") from universities, industries and laboratories around the world use SSRL experimental facilities to conduct experiments across a broad range of scientific, engineering, and environmental disciplines.

Our Experimental Facilities

Click for Full Status

Users conduct experiments at SSRL's approximately 30 experimental stations, which utilize extremely bright x-rays produced by the SPEAR3 storage ring. SSRL provides access to beam lines, instrumentation, ancillary equipment supported by dedicated staff scientists and technicians.

Science at SSRL

SSRL's extremely bright x-rays are used by scientists to view the nanoworld, leading to cutting-edge research in drug discovery, energy efficiency and supply, environmental remediation (toxic waste cleanup), electronics, telecommunications and manufacturing.