ouphrontis: Canadian Light Source The Canadian Light Source is Canada’s national centre
ouphrontis: Canadian Light Source The Canadian Light Source is Canada’s national centre for synchrotron research and a global centre of excellence in synchrotron science and its applications. Located at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, the CLS is a world-class, state-of-the-art facility that is advancing Canadian science, enhancing the competitiveness of Canadian industry and contributing to the quality of life of people around the world. A synchrotron is a source of brilliant light that enables scientists to study the microstructure and chemical properties of materials. Extremely bright synchrotron light is produced by using radio frequency waves and powerful magnets to accelerate electrons close to the speed of light. The light—spanning the spectrum from infrared light to high energy X-rays–is shone down beamlines to laboratory endstations where researchers select specific wavelengths of light to observe matter down to the atomic level.Synchrotrons can be used to analyze a host of physical, chemical, geological and biological processes. Information obtained by researchers can be used to develop ways to help reduce greenhouse gases and clean up mining wastes, examine the structure of surfaces to develop more effective paints and motor oils, design new drugs, develop new materials for products ranging from solar panels to safer medical implants and build more powerful computer chips. New applications are being thought of all the time - synchrotron experiments are even helping with the search for other life in the universe. -- source link
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