Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource - History

History

In 1972 the first x-ray beamline was constructed by Ingolf Lindau and Piero Pianetta as literally a "hole in the wall" extending off of the SPEAR (Stanford Positron Electron Asymmetric Ring) storage ring. At that time, the SPEAR had been built in an era of particle colliders, where physicists were more interested in smashing particles together in hope of discovering antimatter then in using x-ray radiation for solid state physics and chemistry. From those meager beginnings the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Project (SSRP) began. Within a short time SSRP had five experimental hutches sharing the radiation of only a few inches of the curved SPEAR dipole magnets. Each one of those stations was equipped with a monochromator to select the radiation of interest, and experimenters would bring their samples and end stations from all over the world to study the unique effects only achieved through synchrotron radiation. Today the SPEAR storage ring is dedicated completely to the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource as part of the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory facility. SSRL currently operates 24/7 for about nine solid months out of the year; the remaining time is used for major maintenance and upgrades where direct access to the storage ring is needed. There are over 30 unique experimental stations which are made available to users from universities, government labs, and industry from all over the world.