Although we know of the presence of atoms and molecules, there are still a lot of things we don't understand, mostly because we cannot see them.
In order to capture the movement of these particles, scientists at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory use the world's brightest X-ray laser, which fires at incredible speeds.
SLAC announced on April 4 that this state-of-the-art device is going to get more powerful with a billion-dollar upgrade project.
An Incredible Upgrade
Known as the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), the world's brightest X-ray laser is a magnificent creation on its own.
When the LCLS was first introduced in 2010, it became the first light source with a specialized X-ray microscope that uses the fastest and brightest X-ray pulses, providing unprecedented and intricate details of the submicroscopic world.
This amazing device is used by hundreds of scientists annually to glimpse naturally occurring processes, such as the formation of chemical bonds, as well as the rearrangement of electric charges. It also helps provide 3D images of disease-related proteins that could potentially hold the key for finding cures.
The new upgrade, called LCLS-II, will involve ripping out one-third of the existing laser and rebuilding the ripped-out portion with specialty components. These components can function 8,000 times faster and 10,000 times brighter than the current version.
The LCLS works by directing light in the X-ray spectrum into one place in incredibly rapid bursts, which last about femtoseconds (quadrillionths of a second). After the upgrade, the device will have the ability to fire 1 million bursts per second with the same amount of energy.
This means that the bursts are happening much quicker while lowering the amount of energy spent per burst. In fact, the total energy spent in one burst is almost equal to the energy in a hot cup of coffee.
Implications Of The Upgrade
Researchers believe the upgrade will take X-ray science to the next level and open doors to a wide range of ultrasmall and ultrasmall studies.
Project leader Mike Dunne said the upgrade will advance their ability to create futuristic transformative technologies such as life-saving medications, innovative electronics, and ground-breaking energy solutions.
Co-researcher Professor Peter Webber said the upgrade will definitely benefit experiments in many ways.
"I'm very excited to use the new capabilities for my own research," added Webber.
SLAC teamed up with four other national labs and Cornell University to make the upgrade a reality. Each of the four labs — Fermilab, Berkeley Lab, Jefferson Lab, and Argonne — will provide key contributions to project planning, component design, construction, and acquisition.
Meanwhile, researchers said LCLS-II will work in parallel with the current version, both of them occupying SLAC's 2-mile linear acceleration tunnel. LCLS-II will be used in things that do not need as much light, but depends strongly on time. For more dense samples, scientists will still use LCLS-I.
