This Powerful X-Ray Laser Can See the Invisible World

The LCLS-II will be the world's brightest x-ray laser when it delivers "first light" in the early 2020's. With this superconducting accelerator online, scientists will be able to see the hidden world of atoms and molecules like never before.

Cover image credit: Nathan Taylor

The LCLS is short for the Linac Coherent Light Source. It's the world's first hard x-ray free electron laser. The LCLS uses a particle accelerator to fire extremely bright electrons to create fast pulses of hard x-rays, which is why the machine is called an x-ray laser.

At the time of its first light in 2009, the Linac Coherent Light Source generated x-ray pulses a billion times brighter than anything around. The LCLS is a tool unlike anything before it. We're able to deliver these pulses of x-rays in one millionth of one billionth of a second.

The LCLS maxes out at 120 pulses per second. So to see the ultra small world like never before, scientists and engineers are building something new. The LCLS-II is going to take the free electron laser field up another quantum leap. This will be unprecedented and will allow for a beam that's 8,000 times brighter than the LCLS beam and running at this million pulses per second.

#laser #xray #technology #seeker #science #focalpoint

Read More:
LCLS-II: A World-Class Discovery Machine
“LCLS-II will provide a major jump in capability – moving from 120 pulses per second to 1 million pulses per second. This will enable researchers to perform experiments in a wide range of fields that are now impossible. The unique capabilities of LCLS-II will yield a host of discoveries to advance technology, new energy solutions and our quality of life.”

10 ways SLAC’s X-ray laser has transformed science
“If successful, LCLS would enable new science at ultrasmall, ultrafast scales. It would be a new tool, a “microscope” that could spy on the intricate movements of atoms and molecules, capturing their motion in freeze-frame “movies.” It would deepen our fundamental understanding of the building blocks of life and position scientists to make advancements in areas ranging from clean energy to next-generation computing and improved medicines.”

SLAC knows how the universe works. Now it's targeting your needs
“A $1 billion upgrade called LCLS-II is turning the 2-mile-long accelerator into the world's most powerful X-ray laser. X-rays this powerful can be used like a super-intense camera flash -- bright enough to freeze the motion of molecules midway through chemical reactions.”

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[Seeker]

If you like hearing about these large-scale projects like the LCLS-II, what other stories would you like us to cover in the new year? Let us know in the comments below.

[DhrubajyotiRaja]

*All the Foolish People on Social Media Sometimes Make me Forget All the Super-Talented People on Earth*

[DenzCasuela]

As an Engineering student, I don't know if I should be inspired or scared of lessons to come

[Diewux]

In projects like these, I’m always wondering where do they find project managers, for this scope of complexity.

[catalinacurio]

I love that I get to keep up with technology via Seeker, an understandable layman’s use of terminology means I don’t feel overwhelmed with science.

[ankushds]

Another day where I pretend I understand what's being said.

[benjaminlamptey]

This is gonna make chemistry class so much more interesting for kids. Now they'll get to watch real videos of atoms and subatomic particles in action.

[Chris.Pippin]

Wow scientist are so smart we have people that can design and build stuff like this while stupid people still believe the earths flat

[clintonhalunajan]

I thought the Thumbnail is a Portal to another Dimension hahaha🤣

[skelitalmisfit]

Who dislikes this video? Lol this is literally the bleeding edge of science. Where discoveries are being made. Maybe they meant to press the like button and had really fat thumbs or something

[BaghaShams]

"Terrabytes of data every second"

Ok but how do you even store that much data?

[exorias]

the desire of humans to discover new things is just incredible
and we pretty much do it for no reason other than because we can

[timsmith]

@Seeker is great at teaching me new technology I didn't even know were there.

[mxcollin]

This is AWESOME on sooo many levels! Can’t wait to hear what new things they discover with this machine. 👏👍🇺🇸

[hasininan]

That's some expensive science being done over there.

[rickintexas]

I am constantly amazed at the brilliance of the entire team that makes these amazing machines.

[rayzorrayzor]

Wow, But how big is the hardrive that is being used, I mean terabytes of data per sec . . .

[SeanMohundro]

This is really great. I would really appreciate seeing more of the raw imagery they get. It's fun to reflect on what makes everything around us.

[anthonysingh]

Can you guys cover projects that DARPA is doing??

[Borderlands]

From 120 to 1 million pps is a huge jump!!