From The Lab: France’s SOLEIL synchrotron shines light on secrets of matter

Located on the outskirts of Paris, the SOLEIL synchrotron is a unique particle accelerator in which electrons are spun close to the speed of light. Whizzing round a 354-metre ring, these electrons give off energy in the form of intense beams of light that researchers use to conduct experiments. According to John Bozek, a researcher at SOLEIL, when the electrons change direction while moving in the ring, they emit electromagnetic radiation of different wavelengths.This radiation, which can range