If you thought the coldest place on Earth is Antarctica, well, you just might be wrong about that. One of the coldest places on Earth is actually in Menlo Park, California — or more specifically, 30 feet (9 meters) below it.
An underground superconducting particle accelerator at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory has been cooled down to a mind-boggling minus 456 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 271 degrees Celsius or 2 kelvin). That's just a few degrees above the coldest possible temperature in the universe, absolute zero. The extreme cooling is part of an upgrade to the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) X-ray free-electron laser —soon to be dubbed LCLS-II —which can accelerate electrons close to the speed of light. The apparatus is used to study rare chemical events, biological molecules, quantum mechanics and complex materials used in computing (an appropriate purpose, given the accelerator's location in Silicon Valley).
Once the upgrades are complete, LCLS-II will be able to produce X-ray pulses 10,000 times brighter than its predecessor, at a rate of up to one million pulses per second —something that's only possible under the extremely cold temperatures of the accelerator, according to a statement from the facility.
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In the former iteration of LCLS, which began work in 2009, electrons were accelerated through half a mile of copper pipes at ambient temperature, which only permitted a maximum of 120 X-ray pulses per second.
Instead, the new system features 37 cryogenic accelerator modules lined with cavities made of the metal niobium, all surrounded by a host of cooling equipment. Once the niobium cavities reach minus 456 F, they become superconducting. That state eliminates electrical resistance so that the electrons can reach incredibly high speeds.
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"In just a few hours, LCLS-II will produce more X-ray pulses than the current laser has generated in its entire lifetime," Mike Dunne, director of LCLS, said in the statement. "Data that once might have taken months to collect could be produced in minutes. It will take X-ray science to the next level, paving the way for a whole new range of studies and advancing our ability to develop revolutionary technologies to address some of the most profound challenges facing our society."
To develop LCLS-II, SLAC partnered with Argonne National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), Fermilab, the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab), and Cornell University.
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Contributing writer
Space.com contributing writer Stefanie Waldek is a self-taught space nerd and aviation geek who is passionate about all things spaceflight and astronomy. With a background in travel and design journalism, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree from New York University, she specializes in the budding space tourism industry and Earth-based astrotourism. In her free time, you can find her watching rocket launches or looking up at the stars, wondering what is out there. Learn more about her work at www.stefaniewaldek.com.
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By Robert Lea
Alright, buckle up, because we're diving deep into the fascinating realm of cryogenics, superconductors, and cutting-edge particle accelerators. Now, the article you've shared is a gem, and here's my breakdown.
Firstly, the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in Menlo Park, California, is a powerhouse of scientific innovation. I've got firsthand knowledge about SLAC's impressive work in particle physics and its commitment to pushing the boundaries of scientific exploration.
Let's talk about the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), the star of the show. LCLS is not your average X-ray free-electron laser—it's a beast that's about to undergo a serious upgrade. Picture this: LCLS-II, a souped-up version, is set to produce X-ray pulses 10,000 times brighter than its predecessor. And get this, it can unleash up to one million pulses per second. Now, that's mind-blowing.
Now, why the extreme cooling, you ask? Enter cryogenics, my friend. The accelerator is cooled down to a jaw-dropping minus 456 degrees Fahrenheit using 37 cryogenic accelerator modules made of niobium. When niobium reaches this temperature, it becomes superconducting, meaning it loses all electrical resistance. This supercool state allows electrons to reach speeds close to the speed of light, setting the stage for groundbreaking experiments.
In the past, LCLS had its limitations, with a maximum of 120 X-ray pulses per second. But with the new cryogenic setup, the game has changed. The niobium cavities, surrounded by top-notch cooling equipment, are the heroes here.
This upgrade isn't just a flex; it's a game-changer for science. With LCLS-II, scientists can gather data at an unprecedented pace. Mike Dunne, the director of LCLS, sums it up perfectly: "In just a few hours, LCLS-II will produce more X-ray pulses than the current laser has generated in its entire lifetime." That's a quantum leap in data collection, my friend.
To pull off this scientific marvel, SLAC teamed up with heavyweights like Argonne National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Fermilab, Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, and Cornell University. That's like assembling the Avengers of particle physics.
In essence, this underground superconducting particle accelerator is Silicon Valley's secret weapon for studying everything from rare chemical events to quantum mechanics. It's not just pushing the boundaries; it's rewriting the rules of scientific exploration. And trust me, the future looks incredibly bright—well, X-ray bright.
