In an exciting development for global science and technology, China’s High Energy Photon Source (HEPS), the flagship synchrotron radiation facility, has entered its joint commissioning phase. Housed in Beijing’s scenic Huairou District, HEPS is in the final stage of construction, setting the stage for breakthroughs that could transform research worldwide.
Since construction began on June 29, 2019, under the guidance of the Institute of High Energy Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the project has showcased remarkable technical ingenuity. The HEPS team has innovated by using its booster as both an accelerator and an accumulator, a strategy that not only streamlines operations but also curbs costs significantly.
In a major milestone achieved in January, the facility reached a world-class electron beam emittance of 93 picometer radians in its storage ring. This achievement enables HEPS to produce synchrotron radiation light a trillion times brighter than the Sun. With an expected operational debut by the end of 2025, the facility is set to become a pivotal research platform for fields ranging from material science and chemical engineering to biomedicine, aerospace, and energy.
Among its impressive features, the project’s Hard X-ray Imaging (HXI) beamline stands out. Designed to expose the internal microstructures of engineering materials with exceptional clarity, the HXI beamline is poised to revolutionize studies in aerospace materials and whole-brain neural networks. Moreover, HEPS’s innovative injection and extraction system facilitates efficient electron beam recycling, marking a forward-thinking step toward environmental sustainability.
As HEPS nears completion, scientists and researchers around the world eagerly anticipate the facility’s impact. By offering unprecedented light quality and innovative research capabilities, the High Energy Photon Source promises to be a catalyst for global scientific collaboration and discovery, resonating with a new generation of digitally savvy, curious minds.
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Construction of China's High Energy Photon Source enters final stage
cgtn.com
