What is a synchrotron?
A synchrotron is an accelerator of electrons. The electrons are maintained in a circular ring by magnetic field and produce X-Rays tangentially to their trajectory.
These X-Rays are used by sereval **beamlines** located around the storage ring to analyse samples for many domains of interest:
How does it work ?
**Electrons** emitted by an electron gun are first accelerated in a **linear accelerator (linac)** and then transmitted to a **circular accelerator (booster synchrotron)** where they are accelerated to reach a high energy level.
These high-energy electrons are then injected into a circular **storage ring** where they circulate in a vacuum environment, at a constant energy, for many hours.
The electrons are accelerated and deviated in the storage ring by different magnetic components:
- **Bending magnets**: they allow to deviate the electrons by several degrees. This deviation results in an tangential emition of X-Rays by the electrons.
- **Ondulators**: they force the electrons to follow an undulating trajectory. The X-Rays emitted by this ondulation will contribute to generate a much more intense beam of light than that generated by the bending magnets.
- **Focusing magnets**: they allow to keep the electron beam small and well-defined. More small and well-defined the electron beam will be, more bright the X-Rays. These magnets are placed in the straight sections of the storage ring.
The X-Rays emitted by the electrons are directed towards the beamlines situated tangentially to the storage ring in the experimental hall.
Each **beamline** is designed for use with a specific technique or for a specific type of research.
Experiments run throughout the **day and night**.
More about synchrotrons:
You will find on the "Daresbury Laboratory":http://srs.dl.ac.uk/arch/talks/what-is-a-synchrotron_files/frame.htm pages a presentation of what a synchrotron is.
See also the "ESRF":http://www.esrf.fr/AboutUs/AboutSynchrotron/ pages for a interesting synchrotron's description including a virtual tour.
More links related to light sources description are available on the lightsources.org website.
How does it work ?
**Electrons** emitted by an electron gun are first accelerated in a **linear accelerator (linac)** and then transmitted to a **circular accelerator (booster synchrotron)** where they are accelerated to reach a high energy level.
These high-energy electrons are then injected into a circular **storage ring** where they circulate in a vacuum environment, at a constant energy, for many hours.
The electrons are accelerated and deviated in the storage ring by different magnetic components:
- **Bending magnets**: they allow to deviate the electrons by several degrees. This deviation results in an tangential emition of X-Rays by the electrons.
- **Ondulators**: they force the electrons to follow an undulating trajectory. The X-Rays emitted by this ondulation will contribute to generate a much more intense beam of light than that generated by the bending magnets.
- **Focusing magnets**: they allow to keep the electron beam small and well-defined. More small and well-defined the electron beam will be, more bright the X-Rays. These magnets are placed in the straight sections of the storage ring.
The X-Rays emitted by the electrons are directed towards the beamlines situated tangentially to the storage ring in the experimental hall.
Each **beamline** is designed for use with a specific technique or for a specific type of research.
Experiments run throughout the **day and night**.
More about synchrotrons:
You will find on the "Daresbury Laboratory":http://srs.dl.ac.uk/arch/talks/what-is-a-synchrotron_files/frame.htm pages a presentation of what a synchrotron is.
See also the "ESRF":http://www.esrf.fr/AboutUs/AboutSynchrotron/ pages for a interesting synchrotron's description including a virtual tour.
More links related to light sources description are available on the lightsources.org website.
