structure is underway to upgrade the cosmos ’s brightest X - ray of light laser at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center ( SLAC ) in California . This exceptional machine is used to capture images of individual atoms and molecules at a fast pace , which allows scientists to produce stop - motion videos of chemic reactions .
The upgrade will supercede one - third of the Linac Coherent Light Source ( LCLS ) , the uncatchy name for the X - ray optical maser , and rebuild it with new constituent for a total cost of $ 1 billion . The second X - ray laser will be able to work 8,000 time faster and 10,000 times bright than the current one .
The rise , dub LCLS - II , will provide scientists to better study authoritative ( and vulgar ) chemic reaction like never before . For example , the study of how burning make for at an atomic level could run to more efficient fuels .
" LCLS - II will take X - ray scientific discipline to the next level , opening the threshold to a whole raw reach of studies of the ultrafast and ultrasmall , " say LCLS Director Mike Dunne in astatement . " This will staggeringly advance our ability to develop transformative technologies of the time to come , including novel electronics , life - saving drugs and innovative energy answer . "
The new X - ray laser will go in parallel with the current one , making observation over a larger reach of energies and in less time . They will be able to investigate both speedy processes and examine soft samples , campaign the envelope of what can be accomplish with X - ray microscopy .
SLAC Director Chi - Chang Kao say , " Our lab has a longsighted tradition of building and operating Prime Minister X - beam of light sources that aid users from around the mankind pursue press clipping - sharpness research in interpersonal chemistry , materials skill , biology and energy enquiry . LCLS - II will keep the U.S. at the vanguard of X - ray science . "
The X - rays are generated by accelerate electrons through a serial publication of magnets to nearly the upper of luminousness . The magnets are constructed in a specific way , called an undulator , which forces the electrons to locomote in a zigzag trajectory . By following this path , the electrons give off ex - rays that are then used by scientists .
The current system is at way temperature and the negatron utter 120 X - ray pulses per second . The LCLS - II will be cooled down almost to absolute zero and use superconductors capable of achieving thousands more pulse per secondly .
Every twelvemonth , one C of scientist habituate the LCLS to enquire fundamental chemical processes . The ability to give rise “ molecular movies ” could importantly change our understanding of how chemistry works .
