SSRL provides extremely bright X-rays that scientists use for a wide range of research that probes matter on the scales of atoms and molecules. Studies target advances in energy science, human health, environmental cleanup, nanotechnology, novel materials and information technology, among others. As one of five light sources funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, SSRL enables research that benefits every sector of the American economy. SSRL also provides unique educational experiences and serves as a vital training ground for the nation’s future scientific workforce.

At SSRL's experimental facilities, researchers use a range of X-ray techniques to study the structures and properties of matter. They scatter X-rays off of samples to determine their structures and physical properties. They measure how samples absorb and emit X-rays to determine their electronic properties. And they produce images of small and large objects using X-rays as a light source – images that carry information about chemical composition and structural ordering.