Synchrotron Facilities and Free Electron Lasers
Synchrotron radiation (SR) is electromagnetic radiation emitted when a charged particle travels along a curved trajectory. Initially encountered as a nuisance around orbits of high energy synchrotron accelerators, it gradually became an indispensable research tool in many applications: crystallography, X-ray lithography, micromechanics, structural biology, microprobe X-ray experiments, etc. So-called first generation SR sources were exploiting SR in parasitic mode at electron accelerators built to study particle collisions. The second generation of SR sources was the first facilities solely devoted to SR production. They were optimized to achieve stable high currents in the accelerator ring to achieve substantially higher photon flux and to provide a large number of SR beam lines for users. Third generation sources were further optimized for increased brilliance, i.e. with photons densely packed into a beam of very small cross-sectional area and minimal angular divergence (see the Appendix for more detailed definitions of flux, brightness and brilliance) and makes extensive use of the insertion devices such as wigglers and undulators. Free Electron Lasers (FELs), the fourth generation SR sources, open new research possibilities by offering extremely short pulses of extremely bright and coherent radiation. The number of SR sources around the world now probably exceeds 100. These facilities vary greatly in size, energy of the electron (or positron) beams, range of photon energies and other characteristics of the photon beams produced. In what follows we will concentrate on describing some common aspects of SR facilities, their operation modes and specific radiation protection aspects.
- Research Organization:
- SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76SF00515
- OSTI ID:
- 921282
- Report Number(s):
- SLAC-PUB-13049; TRN: US0801677
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Invited talk at 2008 Professional Development School: Topics in Accelerator Health Physics, Oakland, California, 31 Jan - 2 Feb 2008
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ACCELERATORS
BIOLOGY
BRIGHTNESS
CHARGED PARTICLES
COHERENT RADIATION
CRYSTALLOGRAPHY
EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRONS
FREE ELECTRON LASERS
PHOTON BEAMS
PHOTONS
RADIATION PROTECTION
SYNCHROTRON RADIATION
SYNCHROTRONS
WIGGLER MAGNETS
Accelerators
ACCPHY