4GLS-A Fourth Generation Light Source that for the biomedical scientist is more than a laser and more than a storage ring

摘要

The fourth generation light source (4GLS) is a new synchrotron radiation facility proposed for the United Kingdom. It is based on an energy recovery linac, and will consist of a suite of instruments providing radiation from the soft x-ray to the far infrared. In addition to undulator sources, three free electron lasers (FELs) are proposed. Two cavity-based lasers will provide infrared and vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) radiation, and one FEL will use the self-amplification of spontaneous emission (SASE) phenomenon to produce extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) radiation. The combination of sources will provide unprecedented wavelength coverage, power, and timing structure. The 4GLS facility is expected to have great potential for many areas of research in the biomedical sciences. We discuss some potential biomedical applications of 4GLS FELs in, for example, the areas of macromolecular conformational dynamics, imaging, and radiation damage, and show where the unique properties of this combination of sources will benefit these areas of research.