Desktop Synchrotron to Capture Molecular Action

Syncrhronymous Coward writes "Researchers led by Dino Jaroszynski of Strathclyde University have developed a desktop synchrotron particle accelerator that could soon freeze-frame the motion of atoms and molecules. Using a laser, some gas, and a row of magnets, his team put together a source of 'synchrotron light', which they say can be easily upgraded to produce intense, ultra-short pulses of X-rays — ideal for probing the intricate structure of many kinds of matter. Instead of a conventional ring of magnets and microwave cavities, they use an experimental technology called plasma wakefield acceleration."

Comments

Not entirely new, but interesting.

[gardyloo]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wakefield_Accelerator

Re:Not entirely new, but interesting.

[gardyloo]

And the first "practical" mention I have found of this technique so far is from 1979 (if one has access to Phys. Rev. Letters Online): http://prola.aps.org/abstract/PRL/v43/i4/p267_1

Re:Not entirely new, but interesting.

[explosivejared]

Here is a brief outline of wakefield acceleration by Prof. Jaroszynski himself.

Re:Not entirely new, but interesting.

[Cyclotron_Boy]

The poster should have checked his facts. The desktop synchrotron light source is NOT a synchrotron. A synchrotron is an alternating lattice strong focusing particle accelerator with 1 or more accelerating cavities. A wiggler using permanent magnets and a wakefield accelerator to generate the beam of electrons is a great desktop machine, but far from a synchrotron. The wiggler produces synchrotron light - but that's about the extent of it. Synchrotron light comes about from the interaction of charged particles and magnetic fields. Don't call it a desktop synchrotron. It's a desktop synchrotron light source.

Here's some reminders for those of us who haven't studied accelerator physics in a while:
Synchrotron via wikipedia
Synchrotron light also via wiki
Wigglers produce synchrotron light without the synchrotron

Re:Not entirely new, but interesting.

[Elky Elk]

Most synchrotron radiation sources aren't 'synchrotrons' they are electron storage rings, but its widely accepted in the user community that they're known as synchrotrons.

Hmm..

[HadesInjustice]

Do you know if they can somehow take a picture of the atoms while it is at a freeze frame? or will the photon cause the atoms to move again? I just need some pictures of real atoms to prove to my liberal art 'friends' that atoms are not just some random stuff we (chemist and chem e) thought up to confuse them.

It finally happened:

[Glowing Fish]

2008 looks like it is finally going to be the year of the synchrotron on the desktop!

Plasma Wakefield acceleration

[charlesbakerharris]

You can slow the atoms down as much as you want, and major league hitters still can't hit 'em.

Except Aaron Boone, dammit.

Never enough beamtime

[dances with elks]

IAASS (I am a synchrotron scientist). This looks like the ideal solution to the always crippling problem of never having enough beamtime. This will become especially bad in the UK over the next few years as the SRS closes but before Diamond has all its beamlines running. In my own area we like to combine the problems of not having much beamtime with all the problems of vacuum systems. I would love to have my own source at university with out having to moving everything for every experiment.

Meh...

[6Yankee]

...I've got a real one in the next building! :)

Solar wind plasma physics in a kitchen sink

[OriginalArlen]

On a slightly related note, here's the physics of supersonic solar plasma flows, the termination shock, the heliopause and Voyager, all demonstrated in your kitchen sink. Superb stuff courtesy of The Planetary Society. "Really baked my noodle" - Satisfied customer.

Just one step closer...

[Tmack]

...to backpack mounted unlicensed nuclear accelerators that emit proton beams.

tm

A laser, some gas, and a row of magnets...

[Protometheus]

Did that sentence sound very MacGyver to anyone else?