The new issue of symmetry focuses on what may be the ultimate killer app for particle physics technology -- the light source. These large, versatile machines harvest the light given off by accelerating particles and wield it, Swiss-Army-knife fashion, to perform all sorts of research -- materials, energy, biology, drug discovery, you name it.
In "Shedding Light," Lori Ann White traces light sources from their humble origins in the 1970s -- when experiments took place in little sheds grafted onto accelerator rings used for particle physics experiments -- to the explosion of research taking place today and the latest light source technology, the free-electron laser.
John Galayda describes the "beautiful combination" of physics, technology, creativity and practical applications that drew him into light source work; Herman Winick explains synchrotron radiation in 60 seconds; and the symmetry logbook takes a look at early light source experiments on protein structure in a Sears garden shed at SLAC.
Plus:
-- The inside buzz on the Long Baseline Neutrino Experiment: It takes a hive to pull off a big project like this one
-- Why the standoffish attitude of noble elements appeals to hunters of dark matter and neutrinos
-- Hammering nails with a banana: A science festival attracts a million people to Washington, DC
-- Far-flung parts for the Dark Energy Camera come together in Chile
-- How particle accelerators help keep baby bottoms dry
As always, a pdf of the issue is available for download.
