The future of synchrotrons
ERL
The Energy Recovery Linac (ERL) is the next step for Cornell's synchrotron development. Basically, if this technology were implemented, the X-ray beam could be even more intense and even more focused. Both of these allow for better imaging of molecules. Additionally, the ERL is conservative of nearly 99% of the electrons used, because they are tricky to isolate then speed up, and valuable once created.
The Energy Recovery Linac (ERL) is the next step for Cornell's synchrotron development. Basically, if this technology were implemented, the X-ray beam could be even more intense and even more focused. Both of these allow for better imaging of molecules. Additionally, the ERL is conservative of nearly 99% of the electrons used, because they are tricky to isolate then speed up, and valuable once created.
Adam Bartnik discusses the possible design for the ERL
SAXS
A second field that is more a type of macromolecule imaging becoming more popular in recent times is small angle x-ray scattering, which CHESS expert Ken Gillilan believes is the future. This technique is different from crystallography but related because it relies primary on the passing of X-rays through the target molecule, which is cooled during the process. The shallow angle of diffraction means that the researchers can keep the sample in a solution and still analyze it, an important component for being a versatile laboratory, like CHESS.
Free Electron Laser
Marian Szebenyi, the director of MacCHESS at Cornell believes that free electron lasers, like the one at Stanford University are the next step towards utilizing the full potential that particles can provide for imaging purposes. This laser of electrons work because extremely small crystals can be inserted into the machine and hit with a beam of energy that is much more powerful than that of a synchrotron. The crystal will break under the high energy, but shortly before doing so, it will release an image that can be interpreted to find the structure.
A second field that is more a type of macromolecule imaging becoming more popular in recent times is small angle x-ray scattering, which CHESS expert Ken Gillilan believes is the future. This technique is different from crystallography but related because it relies primary on the passing of X-rays through the target molecule, which is cooled during the process. The shallow angle of diffraction means that the researchers can keep the sample in a solution and still analyze it, an important component for being a versatile laboratory, like CHESS.
Free Electron Laser
Marian Szebenyi, the director of MacCHESS at Cornell believes that free electron lasers, like the one at Stanford University are the next step towards utilizing the full potential that particles can provide for imaging purposes. This laser of electrons work because extremely small crystals can be inserted into the machine and hit with a beam of energy that is much more powerful than that of a synchrotron. The crystal will break under the high energy, but shortly before doing so, it will release an image that can be interpreted to find the structure.