Standing on the Stanford Synchrotron

9 responses to “Standing on the Stanford Synchrotron”

1. 

   jurvetson

   Aug 28, 2011 at 10:39 pm

   And underneath those cement slabs, the ring goes round and round.
   

   This little room is beam line 2-3
   
   “Hard-x-ray microprobe imaging, spectroscopy, diffraction and tomography: The hard x-ray imaging station at BL 2-3 is a dedicated imaging facility which has the ability to perform a wide series of experiments, including x-ray fluorescence imaging, micro-spectroscopy (i.e. micro-XANES and micro-EXAFS), spectroscopic imaging (mapping an elemental distribution at several energies within the absorption edge of an element), micro-diffraction, and micro-tomography. The focused x-ray beam is acquired using Kirkpatrick-Baez (K-B) mirrors directly imaging the bending magnet source, and results in a beam size of approximately 2 x 2 microns and photon fluxes in the mid 108 photons/second in the focused spot with SPEAR current at 200mA. The energy range of the beam line optics at BL 2-3 covers from 5-23 keV, with detection of fluorescent x-rays as low as Si. Sample sizes are limited due to the travel range of the high-resolution sample positioner, which is 24 mm in the vertical and horizontal.” (SSRL Imaging Group)

   And it’s connected to racks of equipment (with a Hawaiian Lei dangling from the conduit)

   

   The entry way
   

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2. 

   msamaclean ©

   Aug 28, 2011 at 11:41 pm

   I knew of the arsenic-utilizing bacteria, but the calcium distribution by the downy feather residue in the ancient bird is is interesting. The better the tools, the more we know!
   How wonderful to be there @ the Synchrotron.

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3. 

   Vox Sciurorum

   Aug 29, 2011 at 12:01 am

   Are those weights printed on each block?

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4. 

   Pieces of Eye

   Aug 29, 2011 at 1:34 am

   [http://www.flickr.com/photos/31715949@N00] Yup and the patches are the pick points for the hoist if they ever need to get in.

   I would loooove to work there :/

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5. 

   solerena

   Aug 29, 2011 at 3:40 am

   so fascinating!!! i think scientists are also heroes!!! years ago i felt the same dizziness on Moscow State campus which I feel around Stanford now… if i could redesign myself, i would get another degree in physics. Yes, it is really wonderful to be a part of it. It is the same beam of light:D

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6. 

   posamentier

   Aug 29, 2011 at 3:46 pm

   With science must come humor, too.

   That beam line is crying out for a Slim Picken’s moment a la Dr. Strangelove. (I should dig up the one from the ALS at LBL).

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7. 

   jurvetson

   Aug 29, 2011 at 7:57 pm

   Feel the technology

   

   As for humor, does anything beat the Daily Show tour of the LHC?

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8. 

   solerena

   Aug 30, 2011 at 4:51 pm

   !!! the impossible is possible:)

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9. 

   keeeper9999

   Sep 3, 2011 at 10:38 am

   Impossible is nothing (c) )))

   Reply