Ernest Lawrence

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Ernest Lawrence

• Ernest Lawrence is shown here holding one of the
  first synchrotron devices (1931) a cyclotron.
• It was only 12.7 cm in diameter.
• For his work on cyclotrons Lawrence was awarded
  the 1939 Noble Prize.
• Photo courtesy Ernest Lawrence Berkeley National
  Laboratory, courtesy AIP Emilio Segrè Visual
  Archives

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Synchrotron discovery

• Synchrotron radiation was discovered in 1947
  coming from a particle accelerator called a
  syncho-cyclotron.
• Image on left General Electric synchrotron
  accelerator built in 1946, the origin of the
  discovery of synchrotron radiation.

Image courtesy Advanced Light Source
For a personal account of the discovery go
to http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synchrotron_radia
tion
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Uses and applications
The diverse uses of synchrotrons

• medical imaging and therapy
• materials engineering
• environment
• forensics
• manufacturing
• medicine and pharmaceuticals
• agriculture
• minerals
• micromachining

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Uses and applications
X-ray imaging human finger
synchrotron
synchrotron phase contrast
conventional X-ray
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Rat heart
Uses and applications
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Summary
Why does Australia need a 206 million
synchrotron?
The 1200 scientists who use the Australian
synchrotron will make many discoveries. The
importance of many of these discoveries will
probably only become apparent many years into the
future.
When Faraday discovered a method to generate
electricity with magnets he was asked what use
does it have, to which he responded, what use
is a new born baby? This is true of many of the
discoveries that will be made with synchrotrons
their importance will only be apparent many years
into the future.
Photo courtesy AIP Emilio Segrè Visual Archives
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Further reading and resources

• An excellent animation showing the production of
  x-rays in a synchrotron can be viewed at
• www.isa.au.dk/animations/Finalmovie/astrid_
  total_ v2.mov
• The State Government of Victoria has further
  background material
• www.synchrotron.vic.gov.au
• The Canadian Synchrotron website has further
  resources
• www.lightsource.ca
• UWA scientist Dr Peter Hammond has a site on
  synchrotrons that can be viewed at
  http//internal.physics.uwa.edu.au/hammond/SyncRe
  s/