JASRI and RIKEN Open X-ray Free Electron Laser Facility in Japan

The Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI) and RIKEN have opened an advanced X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL) facility in Harima, Japan. The new facility is the first of its kind in Japan and second in the world.

The XFEL facility is called SACLA, an acronym to SPring-8 Angstrom Compact Free Electron Laser. The strong beams of the XFEL will pave the way to investigate molecules’ structures and swift reaction occurring in chemical samples. When investigating on the atomic scale, researchers are not able to view objects smaller than the light wavelength utilized. The latest XFEL technology surmounts this problem with intense light wavelength and allows scientists to investigate individual molecules and atoms directly.

To assess the performance properties of XFEL, scientists performed a number of tests at the SACLA facility. As per the test results, the XFEL produced an intensity of 7.8 GeV, close to the target energy value of 8 GeV at a wavelength of 0.8Å of the beam. Successful test results promote the use of XFEL for measuring molecular and atomic structure at the Angstrom level.

The facility is slated to become operational in 2011 end.