What is the Australian synchrotron?
The Australian synchrotron is a large machine (about the size of a football field) that accelerates charged particles like electrons to almost the speed of light (300 000 km/sec). As the electrons are accelerated through the magnetic fields, they create extremely bright light and electromagnetic radiation. This is done by creating strong magnetic and electric fields, and powerful electromagnets are used to steer the electrons inside a ring-shaped vacuum (to allow minimal exposure to air molecules and allow storing of the beam at high energy levels for many hours).
As the electrons bounce off the magnetic fields, they generate intense light. The light is then used for research. As the magnets are turned on and off, electrons get pulled along the ring of tubes. Since the electrons are emitting a continuous spectrum of light, with varying wavelengths and strength, scientists can pick whatever wavelength they need for their experiments. For example, visible light, ultraviolet light or X-rays (soft or hard x-rays).
To put it simply, the Australian synchrotron is a highly intense source of light ranging from infrared to hard x-rays supplied at the end-stations of beamlines. It is ten million times more powerful than a normal light microscope, and it is much larger. The whole purpose of the synchrotron is to obtain synchrotron light at the beamlines.
The Australian synchrotron is situated in Melbourne, Australia. It is about 70 metres in diameter.
As the electrons bounce off the magnetic fields, they generate intense light. The light is then used for research. As the magnets are turned on and off, electrons get pulled along the ring of tubes. Since the electrons are emitting a continuous spectrum of light, with varying wavelengths and strength, scientists can pick whatever wavelength they need for their experiments. For example, visible light, ultraviolet light or X-rays (soft or hard x-rays).
To put it simply, the Australian synchrotron is a highly intense source of light ranging from infrared to hard x-rays supplied at the end-stations of beamlines. It is ten million times more powerful than a normal light microscope, and it is much larger. The whole purpose of the synchrotron is to obtain synchrotron light at the beamlines.
The Australian synchrotron is situated in Melbourne, Australia. It is about 70 metres in diameter.
The video below details all aspects of the Australian synchrotron: