SSRL utilizes x-rays produced by its accelerator, the Stanford Positron Electron Asymmetric Ring (SPEAR3). Based on a 2004 upgrade funded by the Department of Energy and the National Institutes of Health, SPEAR3 is a 3-GeV, high-brightness third generation storage ring operating with high reliability and low emittance. SSRL runs in top-off mode, during which the beam current is kept constant with the frequent injection of electrons into the ring. SSRL plans to increase the SPEAR3 current up to 500 mA, increasing the brightness/flux further.
State-of-the-Art Experimental Facilities
SSRL offers more than 30 experimental stations, supporting a variety of techniques including: macromolecular crystallography, soft and hard x-ray microscopy, microXAS imaging, x-ray scattering and diffraction, photoemission spectroscopy and x-ray absorption and emission spectroscopies.
SPEAR3 Status
SPEAR3: Always Improving
SSRL and SLAC's Accelerator Directorate are continually working to improve SPEAR3 to keep SSRL competitive with synchrotron light sources around the world. The current planned improvements include:
- Accelerator performance improvements, including improvements in beam quality (brightness, stability and optimization for timing mode experiments) injector enhancements to increase the range of injection options
- Accelerator reliability improvements along with improvements in spare availability
- Accelerator research and development that prioritizes future accelerator performance upgrades
- Next generation synchrotron light source: PEP-X
