First synchrotron light generated in Taiwan

2015-01-22

The first synchrotron light generated by Taiwan Photon Source was observed recently in Hsinchu City, putting the ROC on par with leading nations around the world in advanced academic research.

Operating from state-run National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center in northern Taiwan and supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the project is expected to boost further development of local sectors including biology, genomic medicine and nanotechnology.

“TPS is one of the brightest synchrotron X-ray sources in the world,” NSRRC Director Gwo Shang-jr said. “It is also the largest multidiscipline and cutting-edge research experimental project in Taiwan.

“The successful inauguration of the facility opens the door to more advanced research for the country’s academia while assisting the local high-tech sector in improving its R&D capability.”

According to Gwo, Taiwan is contributing to the International Year of Light initiative, which was proposed in late 2013 by UNESCO to enhance awareness of how light-based technologies can promote sustainable development.

After more than four years of construction and another four months of hardware testing, Gwo said TPS initiated its booster ring in mid-December, successfully increasing in three days the energy of an electron beam 20 times to 3 gigaelectron-volts.

“Later that month, the storage ring went on line and the stored current of the 3 GeV electron beam reached 1 milliamps to produce our first-ever synchrotron light Dec. 31,” he said, adding that stored current reached 5 mA during the procedure.

The NSRRC will install two superconducting radiofrequency cavities and 10 undulators this year to increase the stored current to 500 mA, with the light source and its experimental facilities opening soon to academic and scientific communities for advanced research.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=226600&CtNode=413)