Monday 25 August 2025
Scientists have made a major breakthrough in generating precise and controllable X-ray pulses, opening up new possibilities for research in fields such as materials science and medicine.
The achievement is based on the development of a free-electron laser, which uses an electron beam to produce intense and coherent radiation. By shaping the electron beam with a slotted foil and a corrugated structure, researchers were able to generate X-ray pulses that are both phase-locked and tunable in their amplitude and delay.
Phase-locked means that the pulses are precisely synchronized with each other, allowing scientists to study complex phenomena such as chemical reactions and biological processes at the molecular level. Tunability, on the other hand, enables researchers to adjust the pulse energy and duration to suit specific experiments.
The technique has been demonstrated in a proof-of-principle experiment at the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory in South Korea, where X-ray pulses with an energy of 9.7 kiloelectronvolts were generated. The pulses had a duration of around 3.6 femtoseconds, which is incredibly short and allows for the study of extremely fast processes.
The potential applications of this technology are vast. For example, researchers could use it to study the dynamics of materials at high temperatures or pressures, or to investigate the behavior of molecules in biological systems.
In addition to its scientific potential, the technique also has practical benefits. X-ray pulses with precise control over their amplitude and delay can be used in medical applications such as cancer treatment, where they can be used to destroy tumors while minimizing damage to surrounding tissue.
The achievement is a major milestone in the development of free-electron lasers, which have been rapidly advancing in recent years. The Pohang Accelerator Laboratory is now planning to build a dedicated X-ray laser facility that will enable scientists to conduct experiments with even higher precision and power.
Overall, this breakthrough has significant implications for our understanding of the world at the atomic scale, and could lead to new discoveries and innovations across a wide range of fields.
Cite this article: “Precise X-Ray Pulses Unlock New Possibilities in Research and Medicine”, The Science Archive, 2025.
X-Ray Pulses, Free-Electron Laser, Materials Science, Medicine, Phase-Locked, Tunable, Amplitude Delay, Femtoseconds, Kiloelectronvolts, Accelerator Laboratory.
