Soft X-rays: The Swiss Army Knife of Synchrotron Light

摘要

The new soft X-ray beamline at the Australian Synchrotron will be contributing to a greener Australia, with users looking at soil structure and "paint-on" solar panels. While "soft" may sound like an odd term for X-rays, it describes their low energy, not their application, according to the scientist in charge of the beamline, Bruce Cowie: "They are the Swiss Army knife of synchrotron radiation because they can be used for so many things". In particular, Cowie says that soft X-rays are good for investigating the chemistry of surfaces, and also the bonding patterns of the smaller and lighter elements from which living organisms are built.