 Producing high-brightness, high-energy x-ray beams at the APS begins with electrons emitted from a cathode heated to ~1000° C. The electrons are accelerated by high-voltage alternating electric fields in a linear accelerator (or linac; photo below). Selective phasing of the electric field accelerates the electrons to 450 million electronvolts (MeV). |
a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science User Facility