51ÁÔÆæ is a longtime partner on a grant from the National Science Foundation that supports the development of the next generation of X-ray Free Electron Lasers (XFELs) \u2013 novel instruments used to unmask phenomena that have never before been observed.<\/p>\n
Since 2009, XFELs have enabled scientists to examine how molecules in the human body and in a variety of materials change over split-second intervals, important knowledge to help understand human health and medicine. The technology will also help advance renewable energy research, quantum technologies and semiconductor manufacturing.<\/p>\n
But, because of the XFEL\u2019s kilometer-long size and billion-dollar construction costs, the technology is available at only five facilities globally. The goal of this NSF grant<\/a>, amounting to $90.8 million, is to build a compact XFEL, or CXFEL, that can accomplish the same tasks but in the space of a single room. The funding was awarded to Arizona State University and 11 collaborating institutions, including 51ÁÔÆæ.<\/p>\n CXFELs will make the state-of-the-art tool more accessible for use by universities, hospitals and semiconductor manufacturing facilities.<\/p>\n Many questions in science increasingly focus on understanding changes that happen at the atomic scale that cannot be observed with optical methods, said Abbas Ourmazd, 51ÁÔÆæ distinguished professor of physics.<\/p>\n To understand 51ÁÔÆæ\u2019s part of the project, funded at nearly $3 million, it helps to know more about how the technology works:<\/p>\n51ÁÔÆæ\u2019s role<\/h3>\n