The Canadian Light Source (CLS) is a world-leading synchrotron light source facility located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. A joint venture of the University of Saskatchewan and McMaster University, the CLS has been operational since 2005 and is funded by the Government of Canada through Canadian Foundation for Innovation, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Western Economic Diversification Canada, National Research Council Canada, and the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario Quebec ,and Saskatchewan.
As one of only a handful of such facilities in the world – and the only one in Canada – the CLS plays a crucial role in advancing scientific research across a wide range of disciplines including health sciences, environmental sciences, materials science and engineering , agriculture ,and physics. With its unique capabilities ,the CLS has attracted scientists from around the globe to conduct groundbreaking research that is helping to solve some of society’s most pressing challenges.
The CLS is based on an accelerator technology known as “storage rings” which was developed at Stanford University in the 1960s . In storage rings , electrons are accelerated to near light speed then forced to travel in a tight path by powerful magnets . As they circulate ,the electrons emit intense beams of electromagnetic radiation spanning the ultraviolet ,visible ,infrared and X-ray portions of the spectrum . This radiation can then be used to probe matter at very small scales – down to individual atoms or even molecules – providing insights that would not be possible with other techniques .
Today’s storage ring accelerators are far more sophisticated than their early predecessors but operate on basically the same principle . The Canadian Light Source uses two main types of accelerators : an electron linear accelerator (or “linac”) to boost electrons up to 70%of light speed ;and a 2.9 kilometre circumference circular storage ring where these high energy electrons are further accelerated before being forced into their tight orbits by superconducting magnets .
While all synchrotrons share certain common features – most notably their reliance on magnetic fields to steer electron beams – there can be significant differences between different facilities in terms if size scale or operating parameters . The particular design features of any given synchrotron will depend on its intended purpose or application. For example medical imaging requires very high resolution soStorage Ring Accelerators tend tob e much larger than those used for studying chemical reactions which need shorter wavelengths but don’t necessarily demand such high levels off focusability .
Synchrotrons like those found it CERN or Fermilab are typically designed for physics experiments while others may have a more applied focus such as conducting industrial processess or developing new pharmaceuticals. The Canadian Light Source is unusual among today’s generation off accelerators in that it was purposely designed asa multi-disciplinary user facility open tom scientist from academia government agencies industry and even artisans from across Canada ad around thw world who wish make use f its unrivalled capabilities regardless f their field f specialization
One beamline at thr CLS stand out insparticular among thw more tha 60 currently offered : CHESS(Canadian High Energy Synchrotron Source). Consideredonef th premier spectroscopy instrumentation infrastructures innNorth America this highly versatile tool enables researchers study how atoms interact with each order understand processes key t many industrial applications including advanced marerials development clean tech catalysis nanotechnology ad solar cells
It should b noted that whils th majorityoff users comfrom within Canadathr number international visiting scholars growin rapidly year over year attestig tot eh global signifianceofthe facility Currently morthan 1000 active usrs representingovr 300 institutions inn50 countries utilize th services providedbyth CLSon annual basiswiththis number expect t grow significantly int he years ahead