In a major leap for cutting-edge science, the High Energy Photon Source (HEPS) – the Chinese mainland’s flagship synchrotron radiation facility – has entered its final commissioning phase. Launched in Beijing’s suburban Huairou District on June 29, 2019, this pioneering project is setting new standards in research for fields from material science to biomedicine.
HEPS is designed to shine: once operational by the end of 2025, it will emit light one trillion times brighter than the sun! 😲 Engineered as a fourth-generation synchrotron radiation facility, it promises to revolutionize studies in chemical engineering, energy, environment, life science and pharmaceuticals.
Innovation is at the heart of HEPS. In January, the facility achieved a world-class electron beam emittance of 93 picometer radians with a beam current exceeding 40 mA. Project director Pan Weimin explained that the team ingeniously designed a booster to serve as both an accelerator and an accumulator, significantly reducing costs while boosting efficiency.
Deputy head Jiao Yi highlighted the eco-friendly approach of HEPS, noting that its injection and extraction system enables efficient electron beam recycling. One of the project’s standout features is the Hard X-ray Imaging (HXI) beamline. Executive deputy director Dong Yuhui detailed how this beamline, integrating advanced insertion devices with a long sample-source distance, delivers higher coherence, deeper penetration, a wider field of view, and superior resolution — all set to revolutionize research in aerospace materials and even whole-brain neural networks.
For tech enthusiasts and the curious alike, HEPS offers a thrilling glimpse into the future of scientific discovery. As this revolutionary project enters its final phase, it is lighting up the path to next-generation breakthroughs. Stay tuned as science and innovation continue to shine bright! 🚀
Reference(s):
Construction of China's High Energy Photon Source enters final stage
cgtn.com
