China is making significant strides in scientific research with the latest advancements at the High Energy Photon Source (HEPS), the country's first high-energy synchrotron radiation light source. Recently, the HEPS project reached a pivotal milestone as electron beams with currents of 12 mA have been successfully stored in the HEPS storage ring.
The Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the primary developer of HEPS, announced this achievement in Beijing's suburban Huairou District on Monday. This progress underscores HEPS's role as a cornerstone in China's scientific and technological infrastructure.
Initiated on June 29, 2019, the HEPS project is designed to become one of the world's leading fourth-generation synchrotron radiation facilities. Its applications span various fields including material science, chemical engineering, and biomedicine, positioning HEPS as a versatile research platform.
The heart of HEPS is its electron storage ring, boasting a circumference of 1,360.4 meters. As one of the largest synchrotron light source accelerators globally and the largest in China, the storage ring is crucial for storing high-energy, high-quality electron beams and generating superior synchrotron radiation, explained Pan Weimin, the HEPS project director.
Commissioning of the storage ring commenced on July 23, involving the installation of 1,776 magnets, over 2,500 power supplies, and 578 electron beam position monitors, all governed by more than 100,000 control signals. Pan emphasized the challenges faced, stating, \"Any small hardware error could affect the trajectory of the electron beam, which is undoubtedly a huge challenge for the commissioning of the storage ring.\"
Looking ahead, the commissioning process will continue over the next few months with goals to increase beam currents and extend beam lifetimes, essential for effective vacuum conditioning and beamline commissioning, according to Jiao Yi, deputy head of the HEPS accelerator division.
Set to become operational by the end of 2025, HEPS is expected to emit light a trillion times brighter than the sun. Once fully functional, it will be accessible to researchers in aerospace, energy, environment, life sciences, and pharmaceuticals, among other fields, offering unparalleled opportunities for scientific breakthroughs.
Reference(s):
China achieves new progress in building High Energy Photon Source
cgtn.com
