Synchrotron lightsources: A universal science toolbox

Authors

Robert Lamb ⋅ AU School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne

Abstract

Big Science is characterized by expensive large-scale instruments and facilities with research conducted by teams of scientists and technicians. Some well know examples include the high-energy physics facility CERN, the Hubble Space Telescope, and the Apollo program. Other familiar facilities would include research nuclear reactors and large scale particle accelerators.
Over the past 50 years, accelerator based lightsources have seen considerable growth worldwide These synchrotrons are a type of circular particle accelerator where electrons are accelerated and bent around a ring and light is emitted and collected in optical systems known as beamlines connected to the ring. These facilities are the size of football fields and can generate a huge spectrum of tuneable, time resolved, intense beams of light, ranging from Infrared to hard X rays simultaneously across many beamlines leading to increasing scientific applications.
These universal scientific toolboxes cover every analytical technique including Spectroscopy, Diffraction, Microscopy and virtually every conceivable combination. Regional Asian lightsources are located in Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan and China. They support thousands of scientists engaged in material science, biology, medicine, physics, chemistry, chemical engineering, geology, archaeology, environmental protection, energy science, electronics, micromachining and nanotechnology.
Despite the price tag of around USD 1 billion to build and initially operate, there are around 45 facilities worldwide and these are routinely upgrading as new technologies are developed. There are also new facilities being planned. All of these are accessible to anyone with a good scientific proposal ... for FREE! But competition can be intense and prior user experience can be a significant advantage in securing access.
Yet National synchrotron lightsource user communities can grow exponentially without a local National facility with "a little help from their friends." In many cases once the National scientific importance of such instrumentation is demonstrated a homegrown facility is not far behind. For example, recently there is discussion around the creation of an African synchrotron lightsource.
In this presentation we will look at some of the key aspects of current synchrotron lightsources design and application. How they have become central to the team building for science communities worldwide and most importantly how you might be part of this scientific and engineering revolution.

About the Speaker

Robert Lamb, School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne

Robert Lamb was educated at Melbourne and Cambridge Universities gaining PhDs in Chemistry and Physics, respectively. He subsequently held appointments in England, Germany, the United States, Canada, Hong Kong and Australia. The latter as Professor at the universities of New South Wales in Sydney subsequently Melbourne where he retired from recently.
During this period, he led the Canadian Light Source Inc. as Chief Executive Officer of Canada's national synchrotron lightsource facility. Prior to this he was the Science Director of the Australian lightsource before being appointed the first Executive Director. Both organizations were at the time, the largest investment by their governments, in a single science project over in the previous half century.
Prof. Lamb's research centers around surface science and coatings technology. In recent years, his focus has been in understanding the way surfaces interact with the natural environment and identifying the mechanisms underpinning nonstick interfaces that result in ultra waterproofing. A major part of probing these interfaces is the application of Synchrotron light, notably X-ray absorption/scattering and imaging techniques.
Prof. Lamb is also interested in the connection that leads government funded research (such as Universities) into private sectors relationships effectively translating science into technology. He has been principal behind the creation of five companies in Australia, Hong Kong/China and Canada. The most recent being the commercialization of a process for manufacturing key medical isotopes using electron accelerator generated "light" rather than using the more conventional nuclear reactor approach. A clear advantage both economically and environmentally.

Downloads

Issue

2025: Proceedings of the 43rd Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas Physics Conference

Article ID

SPP-2025-INV-PS-21

Section

Invited Presentations

Published

2025-06-25

How to Cite

[1]

R Lamb, Synchrotron lightsources: A universal science toolbox, Proceedings of the Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas 43, SPP-2025-INV-PS-21 (2025). URL: https://proceedings.spp-online.org/article/view/SPP-2025-INV-PS-21.