Applications of Synchrotron Light
The applications of synchrotron light are limitless.
Australian Synchrotron Scientist and patron Sir Gustav
Nossal says "The
usefulness of synchrotron light is limited only by our
imagination".
If you look at the following list of some of the
numerous applications (both already proven and potential)
of synchrotron
light, you will agree with
Sir Gustav Nossal. As you read through this list you will be
amazed at how important of a role synchrotron light plays in
science. If you wonder how one could use synchrotron light
in so many fields of science, keep on browsing, I have also
presented a brief description for some of the applications
that I found really interesting.
|
SYNCHROTRON LIGHT HAS
BEEN /CAN BE USED IN: |
- Developing new ultra-thin
environmentally-friendly lubricants
- Analyzing ore samples to aid in mineral exploration
- Trace-element fingerprinting to manage natural
resources
- Investigating plants and insects to naturally
remediate ecosystems
- Understanding and preventing corrosion in oil
pipelines
- Developing more efficient and longer lasting
lubricant coatings
- Improving the productivity of catalysts in chemistry
- "Burning" computer
chip designs into metal wafers
|
- Developing "designer" molecules for pharmaceutical
drugs
- Optimization of seed oil biotechnology
- Improving yields of plant natural health products
- Continuing cancer and diabetes research
- Medical imaging and
radiation therapy
-
Micromachining (example below)
-
Improving the
milling and processing techniques currently employed
-
Assessing potential
for clay to absorb toxic chemicals
- Analysing chemicals to determine what they're made
of
- Watching living cells as they react to drugs
|
|
Medicine and
pharmaceuticals (example below)
Material engineering
(example below)
Environmental studies
(example below)
Minerals
(example below)
Agriculture (example
below)
|
Material Engineering
Longer lasting Jets and
Planes
Better ceramic coatings for jets and planes: Jet
turbines can reach a temperature of 1000oC, but engine
designers want the temperature to go higher. The higher
the temperature the more the thrust. The Defence Science and
Technology Organization (DSTO) of Australia is using
synchrotron light to develop ceramic coatings that can
stand more heat and bond better with metal. The DSTO is
going to use this technology if it is invented for
Australia's F-111aircraft.
|
|
(Ceramic coated plane turbine) |
Flat panel displays
International Business Machine (IBM) and Stanford University synchrotron scientists validated a
new way of producing flat screen displays, used in mobile
phones, laptop computers, and now TVs and desktop monitors.
They showed how liquid crystal molecules are
aligned and bonded on a surface. They showed how a low energy
ion beam could replace the conventional abrasive roller to
score grooves for the crystals.
The development of a non-contact process for liquid crystal
alignment has reduced manufacturing time, and allowed cheaper
production while improving screen quality.
Stopping
arsenic in poor countries from leaching from rocks
into drinking water; Synchrotron light is being used to make
drinking water safer. Arsenic a harmful toxin leaches from
rocks into drinking water.
Using a X-ray microprobe scientists are examining grains
inside the rocks to identify type of arsenics the rocks
are carrying (X-ray microprobe can focus on spot a
thousandth of a millimetre wide and detect concentrations of
elements as low as 10 to 100 parts per billion). This
research is being led by Dr. Mark Rivers at the Advanced
Photon Source (APS) in Chicago, USA.
In another study, air samples
collected after the World Trade Centre destruction were analysed
in a US Synchrotron facility. The results showed how the piles of
debris acted like a chemical factory and emitted toxic
substances into the air causing potential health problems.
(World trade centre collapsing giving toxic gas)
Back to the list of
applications
Tastier and creamier chocolates
Now here
is a delicious application.
UK food scientists from Cadbury
Trebor Bassett, and Heriot-Watt
university have used the Daresbury Synchrotron in their
quest for creamier, smoother chocolate.
 |
|
(Melted chocolate) |
Food scientists know that cocoa butter (cocoa butter is
used to make
chocolate) when it cools can turn into different crystalline
structures. Most scientists agree that there are six
different structures polymorphs 1-6. Polymorph 5 is the best
chocolate, but is very difficult to get , and it turns into
other polymorphs. The lower polymorphs taste bitter,
Polymorph 6 is the easiest an most stable polymorph to get,
but it is really brittle. The key to get polymorph 5 is to
get the right amount of of temperature. Synchrotron light's
unique ability allows scientists to monitor the cooling and
heating of chocolate while its going on. After the right
process is found the scientists will keep the formula.
Maybe next time you go out to buy chocolate you will be
eating a synchrotron science made substance.
Better potato chip packaging
A
polymer film manufacturer in England, UBC films, used
synchrotron science to produce a more reliably transparent
potato crisp package. Scientists discovered that various
parameters during manufacturing, and processing of the of
the bags led to variations in the film causing yellowing or
haziness of the otherwise transparent packaging. Based on their research, the crisp packet manufacturer was able to modify its
production conditions to prevent the problem.
More absorbent baby nappies
 |
|
(Baby in the improved baby nappies) |
Researchers from Dow Chemicals used synchrotron x-rays to
improve the chemical structure of the absorbent properties
used inside disposable baby nappies: resulting in lighter,
more absorbent nappies.
Back to the list of
applications
Forensics
E xtremely small samples and items from crime scenes can be
analyzed using synchrotron techniques. Fake documents and
counterfeit money can also be identified using synchrotron
techniques. Shown in the left is a picture of fingerprints. This
is done by scientists who are involved in criminal studies.
(Fingerprints)
Analysing Beethoven's Hair
You may know that
Beethoven was a great American music composer
who died of mysterious chronic illness.
Using the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory in
Chicago, scientists have analyzed strands of Beethoven's hair and
discovered evidence that the great composer suffered from plumbism
(lead poisoning). Their synchrotron analysis showed that
Beethoven's hair had more than 60 parts-per-million of lead
concentration on his hair which is about 100 times higher than the
level of an average American today. According to the scientists
involved in this study, lead poisoning was probably the cause of his
mysterious chronic illness and his death. Because Beethoven
suffered from common symptoms of lead poisoning (abdominal pain and
depression) during his lifetime, this synchrotron analysis study
seems very convincing that he had lead poisoning.
Didn't synchrotron analysis shed
light on a mystery?
Back to the list of
applications
Medicine and Pharmaceuticals
A
drug to stop Influenza
|
|
(Relenza drug for influenza) |
A
team of Australian scientists from Commonwealth, Scientific,
and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) used
synchrotron light to study and remodel influenza virus
proteins. Their studies led to development of anti-influenza
drug, RelenzaTM, commercialised by Biota. It has
been marketed in 64 countries by GlaxoSmithKline. The "Relenza
drug" blocks the life cycle of the flu virus and hence the
virus can not cause influenza. Shown in the right is a
picture of the drug "Relenza".
Decoding proteins: Reducing need for insulin for diabetic
patients
Canadian Scientist Dr. Gerald Audette and his team are trying to
reduce the need for insulin for diabetic patients using
synchrotron light to study properties of proteins involved in
glucose metabolism.
 |
|
(Two proteins interacting to each
other)
|
Dr.
Audette's team is using powerful international synchrotron
while waiting for the Canadian Light Source (CLS) beamlines to
be commissioned. They are trying to invent a drug that will stop
or more precisely reduce glucose creating proteins from interacting
each other inside a diabetic
patient without creating any side effects to the patient.
War against
Anthrax
Anthrax now poses a significant threat as a weapon of biological
warfare and terrorism. The bacterium responsible for anthrax
disease secretes a toxin made up of three proteins. By finding
the structure of these proteins, American, and European
synchrotron scientists have analysed how the crucial lethal
factor protein in anthrax attack cells. Now, because of this
research US synchrotron biologists have developed a
patent-pending device, "Thorax-Vac", that can collect and kill
anthrax and other bacterial spores.
Back to the list of applications
Agriculture
Optim
(silk like fibre) production
|
 |
|
(Optim fiber from wool) |
A synchrotron light was used to
confirm the structure of a new fibre in comparison to silk. By
stretching and setting wool fibres, Commonwealth, Scientific and
Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) scientists were able to change the
structure of the proteins and create a new product which closely
resembles silk. Thus scientists created Optim, a fibre made from
wool that mimics the properties of silk. The fibre is
currently in commercial production. OptimTM fine is a new wool textile with the feel and drape of
silk.
Improving mineral extraction
Mining industry researchers have used
synchrotron light to study nickel and cobalt oxidation
during extraction. These studies can help optimize
production conditions of the minerals. Once the production
conditions are optimized, scientists predict that mining
companies can increase extraction rates from 60% up to 95%
from their mining operations. Below is a picture of a cobalt
mine.
|
|
(Mining operation) |
Detecting Blood Diamonds
"Blood diamonds" are those which come from places where
their sale has most likely helped to fund civil war or
genocide (Example: Rwanda and Sierra Leone) hence the name
"Blood diamonds". Ethical dealers try to eschew purchasing
and selling these stones, but it is challenging to determine
a diamonds exact origin
(Shown below is a picture of diamond).
 Although diamonds produced in Canada are laser etched with
distinctive marking to determine their source, but there is
nothing to prevent forgers from marking blood diamonds with
the same sign. However, Canadian Light Source researcher,
Jeff Cutler believes he can use the synchrotron light to
identify precisely where a stone originated. This is
possible because each diamond has a set of contaminants
which are unique to its origin. So synchrotron light can be
used to provide the kind of accurate, atomic level
measurements necessary to identify the contaminants. This
would help protect the reputation of Canada's diamond
industry.
(Blood diamond)
Scientists are using synchrotron light to manufacture tiny
machine parts. An everyday example is inkjet printer heads.
So next time you print a document using inkjet printer heads
remember you are using technology created by synchrotron
light. Below is a picture of an inkjet printer head.
|
