SYNCHROTRON SCIENCE WITH LIGHT BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN

FRANK P. LARKINS

THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE

And

CHAIR, AUSTRALIAN SYNCHROTRON SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE

ABSTRACT

In a number of physical and life science disciplines solutions to many challenging problems cannot be found without resort to powerful light sources that are not available in conventional laboratories. Scientists and engineers have combined to build machines, known as synchrotrons, that capture the photons (light) emitted by electrons travelling at relativistic speeds in near-circular orbits. The light has special characteristics in an energy range from low energies (infra-red) to high energies (x-rays) at a brightness typically one million times brighter than the sun. The capability to control the electromagnetic spectrum over a wide energy range is a goal eagerly sought by scientists. The Australian scientific community with the support of international colleagues is presently building a third generation synchrotron facility in Melbourne. The facility will be commissioned in 2007.

An overview of the Australian Synchrotron Project will be presented along with the benefits for the scientific and industrial communities of having access to state-of-the-art scientific facilities. Some examples of unique experiments that can be performed will be presented.

SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTION OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS

bernard price memorial lecture 4-5 october 2004