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X-ray studies at SLAC facilities help scientists understand the fundamental workings of nature by probing matter in atomic detail.

atoms forming a tentative bond

Illustration

Battery research

The new SLAC-Stanford Battery Center aims to bridge the gaps between discovering, manufacturing and deploying innovative energy storage solutions. 

April 11, 2023
Illustration showing a battery researcher at left, a battery at center and a grid of battery applications at right.
News Feature

Shining a new light on oil-slick rainbows and other thin-layer physics

To invent a new tool for studying how chemicals react at interfaces, researchers shoot tiny jets of oil and water at each other and...

November 30, 2022  ·  4 min read
Rainbow colors in a sheet of layered liquids
News Feature

Artificial intelligence deciphers detector "clouds" to accelerate materials research

A machine learning algorithm automatically extracts information to speed up – and extend – the study of materials with X-ray pulse pairs.

November 7, 2022  ·  3 min read
A pattern of red and yellow dots surrounded by a ring of blue dots on a black background.
News Feature

Yijing Huang wins 2022 LCLS Young Investigator Award for work on controlling unique structures of semiconductors

The award celebrates Huang’s achievements studying atom-scale physics with fast X-ray pulses.

October 31, 2022  ·  2 min read
Yijing Huang at Stanford University
News Brief

Blaine Mooers wins 2022 Lytle Award for decades of synchrotron leadership and RNA research

His work has led to new treatments for advanced lung cancer and a better understanding of dangerous parasites.

October 26, 2022  ·  3 min read
Blaine Mooers
News Feature

Molecular cage protects precious metals in catalytic converters

Encapsulating precious-metal catalysts in a web-like alumina framework could reduce the amount needed in catalytic converters – and our dependency on these scarce metals.

October 24, 2022  ·  4 min read
A web of red material encapsulates blue polyhedrons.
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Battery life and efficiency

Studies of atomic-level processes that drain battery life and efficiency help improve battery performance. 

October 11, 2022
Studies of atomic-level processes that drain battery life and efficiency help improve battery performance.
Illustration

Electron transfer in a molecular complex

When light drives electron transfer in a molecular complex, the surrounding solvent molecules also rapidly move.
October 11, 2022
When light drives electron transfer in a molecular complex, the surrounding solvent molecules also rapidly move.
Illustration

Crystallized ribosomes

At LCLS, crystallized ribosomes travel through a capillary into the interaction region, where they are zapped with a beam of X-rays.

October 11, 2022
At LCLS, crystallized ribosomes travel through a capillary into the interaction region, where they are zapped with a beam of X-rays.
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XLEAP illustration

Scientists use a series of magnets to transform an electron bunch into a narrow current spike which then produces a very intense attosecond X-ray...

September 27, 2022
XLEAP illustration
Illustration

Colors of ancient life forms

By detecting minute traces of original pigments in fossils, X-ray imaging at synchrotrons has given scientists the chemical evidence needed to discover the actual...

September 23, 2022
X-ray imaging at synchrotrons has given scientists the chemical evidence needed to discover the actual colors of ancient life forms.
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Chemical reaction

The ultrafast, ultrabright X-ray pulses of the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) have enabled unprecedented views of a catalyst in action, an important step...

September 23, 2022
Nilsson science cover