Advanced Light Source — synchrotron facility at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Design and main components

The ALS is built around a synchrotron storage ring that keeps energetic electrons circulating at near‑light speeds. As the electrons are deflected by magnets, they emit radiation that can be collected and directed down experimental lines. Key components and terms commonly associated with the facility include:

• Storage ring: the circular accelerator where electrons are stored and guided.
• Insertion devices: specialized magnetic structures (undulators and wigglers) that enhance beam brightness and tune spectral properties.
• Beamlines: experimental stations that transport and condition light for experiments; the ALS operates over forty simultaneous beamlines for different techniques and wavelengths.
• Detectors and endstations: instrument suites tailored to spectroscopy, diffraction, imaging and surface science.

History and development

Construction of the ALS began in the late 1980s and was completed in the early 1990s, with initial commissioning and user operations following soon after. Since that time the facility has evolved through upgrades to magnets, insertion devices and instrumentation to improve brightness, stability and the range of experiments possible. The staff and scientific personnel at the ALS have grown to support a broad user base; historically the facility has employed a few hundred scientists, engineers and technical staff to sustain operations and research support.

Scientific capabilities and examples of use

The ALS is recognized as one of the world’s brightest sources in the ultraviolet and soft x‑ray bands, enabling experiments that require high spectral brightness and fine spatial resolution. Typical areas of research include:

• Materials characterization: element-specific spectroscopy and imaging to study electronic structure, magnetism and chemical bonding.
• Nanoscience and nanofabrication: imaging and patterning at nanometer scales.
• Biological and environmental science: structural and chemical mapping of biological tissues, proteins, and complex samples.
• Energy research: investigations into batteries, catalysts and solar materials to improve performance and durability.

Access, user program and operation

The ALS functions as a user facility: researchers from universities, industry and government laboratories submit proposals to gain time on beamlines. Proposals are peer reviewed and prioritized; many experiments are provided at no cost when the results are intended for public dissemination. Each year thousands of researchers visit the ALS for scheduled experiments. The facility also maintains partnerships for technology development, industrial access and collaborative projects.

Notable facts and distinctions

The ALS is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and has been a leading center for soft x‑ray and ultraviolet science for decades. It supports a large, diverse user community and operates a large suite of beamlines designed for parallel scientific programs. For administrative and scientific leadership information, the facility’s current management and directorate can be consulted; the ALS continues to update equipment and develop new experimental capabilities to keep pace with evolving research needs.

For more detail on the laboratory, operations and user policies see institutional resources: synchrotron light source overview, scientific research support, and information on specific beamlines.

Directorate and staffing figures reflect the facility’s role as a staffed national user laboratory. The ALS remains an important resource for researchers requiring bright ultraviolet and soft x‑ray light for experiments that probe matter at small length scales and with element specificity.