What is Synchrotron Radiation?
The visible and invisible forms of light produced by electrons circulating in a storage ring at nearly the speed of light are called synchrotron radiation. Synchrotron radiation, like visible light, is electromagnetic waves. Part of the spectrum of synchrotron radiation lies in the x-ray region, where the wave oscillation rate is thousands of times faster than that of visible light. The radiation is used to investigate various forms of matter at the molecular and atomic scales. While SPEAR2 could see quick and deep, SPEAR3, with 10-100 times higher photon brightness, will see even more quickly and deeply. Herman Winick, Assistant Director of SSRL, explained that, “SPEAR3 can be expected to extend SPEAR2s remarkable legacy by enabling the 2,000 SSRL users to investigate the atomic arrangements and electronic properties of materials, including biological and semiconductor materials, at higher spatial resolutions and at shorter time scales.” The main goals of the current upgrade are to si
