Open AccessEarly Work with Synchrotron Radiation at Stanford
Author(s) -
Doniach S.,
Hodgson K.,
Lindau I.,
Pianetta P.,
Winick H.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of synchrotron radiation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.172
H-Index - 99
ISSN - 1600-5775
DOI - 10.1107/s0909049597012235
Subject(s) - synchrotron radiation , work (physics) , synchrotron , radiation , physics , engineering physics , materials science , nuclear physics , thermodynamics
The use of synchrotron radiation in the soft and hard X‐ray spectral region received major impetus with the start of parasitic operation of the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Project (SSRP) in 1974. This was the first time that synchrotron radiation from a multi‐GeV electron storage ring was made available in a user facility for studying the structure of matter. Here we review the early work at SSRP as well as the activities that preceded it, highlighting the scientific accomplishments (soft X‐ray photoemission, EXAFS, protein crystallography), beamline instrumentation developments and source improvements. The early work using bending‐magnet radiation led to the funding of several dedicated facilities in the US and elsewhere in the world – the so‐called second‐generation light sources. Early work with wiggler and undulator insertion devices led to funding of third‐generation sources better optimized for insertion device sources, particularly undulators.