Synchrotron lightsources use particle (usually electrons) acceleration to produce high energy radiation
(usually light in the x-ray region of the electromagnetic spectrum) that is used to study atomic structure
of materials.
The process of producing the synchrotron radiation starts with producing a flux of electrons. This is
commonly done with a cathode system similar in principle to old-style television sets. The electrons
travel through a system that accelerates them to relativistic speeds, i.e., near the speed of light.
This system, commonly consisting of a small linear accelerator and a booster ring, not only increases
the speed of the electrons, but also focuses them into a small beam. The electron beam, now travelling
extremely close to the speed of light, is injected into the main storage ring.
Many large and very precise magnets are needed to make electron beam follow the path of the ring,
otherwise they will want to keep going straight. When magnetic fields cause charged particles to
change directions, the particles emit radiation, the frequency of which is determined by the speed
of the electrons. The storage ring has several openings to beamlines where the radiation is sent from
the storage ring to experimental stations.
Synchrotron radiation is extremely bright, much more intense than x-ray machines used in hospital
and dental offices. Synchrotron radiation can be used to study the detailed atomic structure of materials.
The applications are far and wide, including biomedical research, energy, food and water supply, archeology
and history research, geophysics and forensic science.
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