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The Linac Coherent Light Source at SLAC, the world’s first hard X-ray free-electron laser, takes X-ray snapshots of atoms and molecules at work, revealing fundamental processes in materials, technology and living things.

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Rooftop view of Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS)

News Feature

The SLAC scientists will each receive $2.5 million for their research on fusion energy and advanced radiofrequency technology.

Gleason-Gamzina-ECA2019
News Feature

The technique can be used to study molecular phenomena and the forming and breaking of chemical bonds.

vibrating molecules
News Feature

Combined with the lab’s LCLS X-ray laser, it’ll provide unprecedented atomic views of some of nature’s speediest processes.

Alex Reid, ultrafast electron diffraction (UED)
News Feature

Particle accelerators are some of the most complicated machines in science.

News Feature

Physicist Tor Raubenheimer explores the world by climbing rocks and designing particle accelerators.

Photo: Tor Raubenheimer, accelerator physicist
News Feature

Experiments at SLAC’s X-ray laser reveal in atomic detail how two distinct liquid phases in these materials enable fast switching between glassy and crystalline...

Diagram of material switching between glassy and crystalline states
News Feature

Its electron beams will drive the generation of up to a million ultrabright X-ray flashes per second.

LCLS-II first electron beam
News Feature

SLAC’s ‘electron camera’ films rapidly melting tungsten and reveals atomic-level material behavior that could impact the design of future reactors.

Tungsten melting
News Feature

Researchers produced an underwater sound with an intensity that eclipses that of a rocket launch while investigating what happens when they blast tiny jets...

Underwater sound
Press Release

A better understanding of how these receptors work could enable scientists to design better therapeutics for sleep disorders, cancer and Type 2 diabetes.

melatonin
News Feature

A new method could be used to look at chemical reactions that other techniques can’t catch, for instance in catalysis, photovoltaics, peptide and combustion...

molecule
News Feature

More than 300 gathered for a day-long symposium to celebrate the history and future of the pioneering X-ray laser.

group photo from LCLS 10-year anniversary symposium