SYNCHROTRON RADIATION Meaning and
Definition
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Synchrotron radiation refers to the electromagnetic radiation emitted by charged particles when they are accelerated or decelerated in a synchrotron or a storage ring. It is a high-energy radiation that spans a wide range of wavelengths from the microwave to X-rays. The term "synchrotron" refers to the circular path followed by charged particles in a synchrotron or storage ring, where they are constantly accelerated by powerful magnets.
The radiation is produced when the accelerated charged particles, typically electrons or positrons, lose energy due to their continuous acceleration or deceleration. This energy loss manifests as a release of electromagnetic radiation that can be utilized for a variety of scientific applications. Synchrotron radiation has unique properties that make it extremely useful in many fields of research, including physics, chemistry, materials science, biology, and medicine.
This high-energy radiation offers several advantages over other sources of radiation. Firstly, synchrotron radiation is highly intense, meaning it provides extremely bright and focused beams of light. Moreover, it has a broad spectrum, encompassing a wide range of energies and wavelengths. Scientists can tune the energy of the emitted radiation by adjusting the energy of the charged particles or by manipulating the magnetic field.
Synchrotron radiation is widely utilized in a range of scientific techniques, such as X-ray crystallography, X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray imaging, and particle physics experiments. Its applications include studying the atomic and molecular structure of materials, probing the electronic properties of matter, investigating chemical reactions, understanding biological processes, and advancing medical imaging techniques.
Etymology of SYNCHROTRON RADIATION
The word "synchrotron radiation" has its etymology rooted in two main components:
1. Synchrotron: The term "synchrotron" comes from the Greek word "syn-" meaning "together" and the word "khronos" meaning "time". "Synchrotron" was first coined by Manne Siegbahn, a Swedish physicist, in 1947 to describe a type of particle accelerator. It referred to a machine that synchronized particles in a circular path using alternating high-frequency magnetic fields.
2. Radiation: The term "radiation" comes from the Latin word "radiare", which means "to emit rays". The word has been used in the field of physics to describe the emission of energy in the form of electromagnetic waves or particles.
