What is synchrotron radiation?
Synchrotron radiation is electromagnetic energy emitted by charged particles (electrons and ions) that spiral around magnetic field lines close to the speed of light. Since the electrons are always changing direction, they are accelerating and emitting photons (forced to change the direction). The frequency is determined by the speed of the electron at that time. This is known as a synchrotron radiation.
Any charged particle which moves in a curved path or is accelerated in a straight-line path will emit electromagnetic radiation. Since synchrotrons emit extremely bright light, it is also known as a light source. Synchrotron radiation is a million times brighter than the sun.
Any charged particle which moves in a curved path or is accelerated in a straight-line path will emit electromagnetic radiation. Since synchrotrons emit extremely bright light, it is also known as a light source. Synchrotron radiation is a million times brighter than the sun.
Properties of synchrotron light
Synchrotron light has a number of unique properties. These include:
· High brightness: synchrotron light is extremely intense (hundreds of thousands of times more intense than x-ray tubes) and highly collimated (light rays are parallel).
· Wide energy spectrum: synchrotron light is generated with infrared light to hard x-ray energies.
· Highly polarised: the synchrotron emits highly polarised (restrict vibrations of) linear, circular or elliptical radiation.
· Emitted in very short pulses: pulses emitted are usually less than a nano-second (a billionth of a second).
· High brightness: synchrotron light is extremely intense (hundreds of thousands of times more intense than x-ray tubes) and highly collimated (light rays are parallel).
· Wide energy spectrum: synchrotron light is generated with infrared light to hard x-ray energies.
· Highly polarised: the synchrotron emits highly polarised (restrict vibrations of) linear, circular or elliptical radiation.
· Emitted in very short pulses: pulses emitted are usually less than a nano-second (a billionth of a second).