QUESTION
The assignment is:
[You will conduct a major research project on the use of synchrotrons (and its influence on nanoscience applications-nanomaterials,nanodevices)- 5 pages- single space with the use of graphs and scientific data.
and Questions you may wish to consider when researching this particular topic
What is it? How does it work? What is the Physics behind it?
How does the synchrotron version compare with lab based equivalent versions (if applicable)
What cutting edge (eg journal articles exist in literature) methods, ideas, techniques, etc exist in the particular field?
Are there any controversies?]
SOLUTION
Synchrotron
A large machine that accelerates electrons and increases its speed to that of light is called a Synchrotron. A bright and high intensity light is produced when electrons are deflected by strong magnets. This light is channeled down to work stations where it is used for research.
To accelerate the charged particles, an arrangement of strong magnets and high frequency radio waves are required. This arrangement accelerates the electrons into a SS (stainless steel) ring wherein they get their speeds increased.
In this procedure, the strong magnets are to be switched on and off thereby kicking the electrons through the tube rings. From the spectrum of light or radiation emitted by the high speed electrons, it is easy for the scientists to select a radiation with the required wavelength, frequency, strength etc for their expereiments.
Synchrotron light
It is the light produced by high speed charged electrons when deflected by strong magnets. This radiation is emitted in a cone in forward direction, tangential to the particle’s orbit. Synchrotron light is unique in its strength and brilliance. Look at the picture below.
Canadian light source website (odec.ca, 2005)
Another feature of synchrotron light is that it can be generated across the range of entire electromagnetic spectrum which includes visible, infrared, ultra violet , types of x-rays and also the microwaves. Scientists are trying to push this light further into the X ray and microwave regions and the brilliance has improved over the years as depicted in the picture.
The table below shows the comparative study between synchrotron and other lights. The number of photons that strike 1mm2 samples during one second exposure is the measure of brightness of the light.
Comparative brightness of lights from different sources
| Type of light | No. of photons per second per mm2 |
| X-ray | 10 000 000 |
| Candle | 1000 000 000 |
| Sunlight | 10 000 000 000 000 |
| Synchrotron light | 10 000 000 000 000 000 000 |
Some more important properties of synchrotron light are:
- They have high energy so, they penetrate deeper into matter.
- They have small wavelengths that permit the studying of tiny features like the bonds in molecules and other Nano scale objects
- Synchrotron beams can be coherent and polarized that facilitate many experiments
- This light can be used to flash at very high frequency given a time structure for the light
Synchrotron light and electromagnetic spectrum
The electromagnetic spectrum table below shows the wavelengths of radiation emitted from different sources also, their names based on their wavelengths, frequencies, strength and more. The synchrotron light is not limited to the applications of synchrotrons alone. The original name of synchrotron light is electromagnetic radiation. Any source that emits light in the range of microwave and X rays is emitting a form of synchrotron light. One visible difference is that light from synchrotrons make the radiation up to a billion times more sharper, brilliant than that of the normal radiation emitted by other ordinary man-made objects.
Let us look at synchrotrons more closer:
The important parts of synchrotron:
1. Electron gun (odec.ca, 2005)
A high strength positive charge which is capable of pulling the electrons is being shooted at the screen. These positively charged particles tend to pull the electrons away. This technique is the same as in that of a television picture tube.
2. Linear accelerator
LINAC is the abbreviation of linear accelerator. LINAC is connected to the output of electron gun. To increase the speed of electrons, we need an arrangement of strong magnetic fields and microwave radio frequency generator. The electrons would be accelerated and would gain a speed which is nearly 3 X 108 m/s.
3. Booster ring (odec.ca,2005)
The energy increases from nearly 250 MeV to nearly 2.9 to 6 GeV (GeV- which is Giga electron volt) in the booster ring. This power can be compared to the power of around 20 million flash light batteries. This is really enormous power and energy!!
4. Storage ring (odec.ca,2005)
In storage ring, there is a system that shifts high speed electron that are now worth producing light from the booster ring to this place. The high speed electrons are made to revolve for a couple of hours continuously and they emit photons every time around 7000kg of dipole magnets are used to invert the direction of the negatively charged particles.
Important Applications of Synchrotrons
- Used for developing designer molecules for pharmaceutical drugs
- Used in Improving yield of plant natural health products.
- More in diabetic and cancer research
- Watching the reaction on living cells to drugs
- Medicine and pharmaceuticals
- Used in optimization of seed oil biotechnology
- Micromachining
Let us study few applications in brief:
Medicine and pharmaceuticals
It is used in decoding proteins
The Canadian scientists are developing innovative steps to study the proteins behavior under the light of synchrotrons. This study will help them to understand the properties of proteins involved in the metabolism of glucose. With the results, they would in turn try to reduce the insulin dosage for diabetic patients.
Proteins interacting during metabolism of glucose
The group in effect is in search of a medicine which would stop or would decrease the growth rate of proteins which is obtained from the glucose. Effectively, it is to say that the proteins should not interact with one another inside the patient body, with the help of the drug thereby creating no harm to the patient.
Micromachining application
Scientist use this light to manufacture tiny machine parts. A day to day example is ink jet printer heads. So next time you use an ink jet printer, remember to appreciate the technology that created the printer heads using synchrotron light. Below is the ink jet printer head.
Ink jet printer head
Importance of synchrotrons
Q: What are the most important characteristic features of synchrotron radiation compared to lab X rays?
A: The first and foremost advantage in using synchrotron radiation over x rays is its brilliance. A synchrotron light like the ESRF has a brilliance which is more than a billion times than that produced by a laboratory source. The brightness and angular speed of the beam together are characterized by the terms Brilliance. The difference between the two sources can be compared to the difference of light we get in laser beam and an ordinary light bulb. If the brilliance is higher, it lets us see more detail in the material under study. To be precise, there is a greater precision in diffraction of light from a crystal whose angle and intensity is significant and is continuously recorded by a detector.
Cutting edge parts, techniques used in synchrotrons that make it the best
The monochromators: They are periodic, diffracting elements that allow one to select given energies of radiation.
The gratings: These are used for energies below roughly 1KeV.
Crystals: For higher frequencies crystals are used which are natural three dimensional gratings to be specific it is high quality silicon crystals. For ESRF, the typical energies are in between 5 and 60 KeV, but there exists radiations of lower and higher energies.
Multilayers: An arrangement of x-ray optical elements that allows one to select any narrow energy band. These layers are multilayers, an arrangement of thin double layers, mostly a metal and a lower density material.
Prisms.. When used occasionally: These could be used in the visible range, however, synchrotron are mainly used to produce much higher energy photons that is radiations with much shorter wavelengths. Hence, prisms are mostly not used in synchrotrons like ESRF.
Influence on Nano science applications
Q: Is it possible to detect particulate matter in the Nano range in human fluids along with their compositions..? Human fluids here indicates blood and composition here involves study of heavy metals, carbon etc.
X ray fluorescence is used to detect trace levels of heavy metals, but carbon cannot be detected. If the Nano particles contain elements such as Platinum, silver, gold cadmium or even lanthanides that are generally not present in human fluids, and then trace quantities of these Nano particles can be estimated. The ESRF Nano probe is used to visualize the Nano particles or clusters of Nano particles if they are 100nm or bigger.
Controversies in the making of synchrotrons
The synchrotron which is used for single crystal x ray diffraction studies is the recent subject of considerable discussions and controversies. The comment is that the polychromatic radiation produced by synchrotron emission can be easily monochromated over a large range of wave lengths to give an intense x ray beam which is in contrast to the other conventional sources of light that falls in the electromagnetic spectrum.
References:
1.How does a synchrotron work? , viewed on 26th march 2012, http://www.odec.ca/projects/2005/shar5a0/public_html/how_does_a_synchrotron_work.htm#electron_gun,
2.Applications of Synchrotron Light , viewed on 26th march 2012, http://www.odec.ca/projects/2005/shar5a0/public_html/applications_of_synchrotron_ligh.htm
3.Applications of Synchrotron radiation to protein crystallography, viewed on 26th march 2012, http://www.pnas.org/content/73/1/128.full.pdf
4.New Approach to quantum corrections in synchrotron radation, viewed on 26th march 2012,http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0003491678901422
5. What is synchrotron light? , viewed on 26th march 2012,http://www.odec.ca/projects/2005/shar5a0/public_html/what_is_synchrotron_light.htm
JC63
But you can order it from our service and receive complete high-quality custom paper. Our service offers “science” essay sample that was written by professional writer. If you like one, you have an opportunity to buy a similar paper. Any of the academic papers will be written from scratch, according to all customers’ specifications, expectations and highest standards.”
