Measuring individual atoms with compact X-ray lasers
Friday, November 30, 2012 - 09:02
in Physics & Chemistry
To look at small objects typically requires big machines. For example, the study of single atoms with a laser requires x-ray radiation of such high energy that it is only produced by accelerating electrons in large facilities. Researchers at the RIKEN SPring-8 Center in Harima have developed a more affordable electron laser design, the SPring-8 Angstrom Compact free-electron Laser (SACLA), which is not only compact and therefore economic to build but also delivers x-rays with unprecedented short wavelengths.