UW to Develop Large Electron Laser with U.S. Department of Energy Funding

The University of Wisconsin (UW) is developing an electron-producing gun in its campus with the help of funding received from the U.S. Department of Energy.

The electron-producing gun is the first step to developing a huge electron laser. UW stated that the U.S. Department of Energy’s Basic Energy Sciences granted $4.5 million to the Synchrotron Radiation Center of the university to develop an electron gun.

The Synchrotron Radiation Center’s Director, Joe Bisognano stated that the electron gun is a vacuum tube that generates a stream of electrons to be sent down to the other places of the Free Electron Laser. The laser would generate an enormous bright source of light and enable the radiation center to conduct experiments that have not been conducted before.

Bisognano stated that the free laser beam generates quick, short light pulses that are calculated in quadrillionths of a second. The laser would enable scientists to view the chemistry taking place before them. By viewing the occurring chemistry, scientists could have the ability to generate new nanotechnology, exotic materials and new energy sources.