SLAC main quad, with the Science and User Support Building and the Arrillaga Science Center
Our Story

About SLAC

As one of 17 Department of Energy national labs, SLAC pushes the frontiers of human knowledge and drives discoveries that benefit humankind. We invent the tools that make those discoveries possible and share them with scientists all over the world.

Lab overview      Lab organization

I’m thrilled and humbled to be leading SLAC into the future, building on our very distinguished history.” 

– Q&A article

John Sarrao Lab Director
John Sarrao beside a railing.

 

Staff engineer Bruis van Vlijmen demonstrates how he works in the Battery Informatics Lab at SLAC

Stronger together

Our research and industry partnerships

We build relationships with industry and other partners to bridge the gap between scientific discoveries and their practical applications.

Key partners

SLAC, Stanford & Department of Energy

Stanford University operates SLAC for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science – a partnership that is key to our successful work at the forefront of discovery and innovation.

SLAC+Stanford

video

About SLAC

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is a Department of Energy national lab run by Stanford in the heart of Silicon Valley. We invent scientific tools to explore the universe at its biggest, its smallest and its fastest. Watch this short video to understand our place. 

About SLAC video still frame
Video
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is a Department of Energy national lab run by Stanford in the heart of Silicon Valley. We invent scientific tools to explore the universe at its biggest, its smallest and its fastest. (Olivier Bonin/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)

SLAC’s scientific legacy

Our history

Originally founded for breakthrough research in particle physics, SLAC has evolved into a multipurpose lab whose mission is to explore the world at all scales, from the tiniest fundamental particles to the largest structures in the universe.

Staff engineer Dominique White, center, talks with project manager Dennis Martinez-Galarce.

Making science accessible

Our facilities and research centers

At our large-scale facilities and specialized centers, scientists take advantage of a powerful combination of tools and expertise and collaborate with colleagues from a wide range of fields.

A vibrant community

Our people

It takes all kinds of people - a wide variety of backgrounds, experiences, ideas and skills - to pursue our mission and make the lab a great place to work. 

Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) Undulator Hall
LCLS Undulator Hall with both soft X-ray undulators, left, and hard X-ray undulators, right.  (Alberto Gamazo/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)
Inspection of the LSST Camera optic filters
From left, Travis Lange, Hannah Pollek and LLNL’s Justin Wolfe inspect LSST Camera optic filters. (Jacqueline Ramseyer Orrell/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)
FACET laser lab
Selina Li, Sebastien Corde, and Philippe Hering in the FACET laser lab. (Matt Beardsley/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)
SSRL scientists at Beam Line 6-2
SSRL's Johanna Nelson (right) and senior scientist Mike Toney with the transmission X-ray microscope at Beam Line 6-2. (Matt Beardsley/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory )
Cryoplant team
Drone photo of the team working on LCLS-II cryoplant. (Olivier Bonin/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)

Experience SLAC 

Visit our lab

Participate in our public tours and events to get a front-row view of the exciting world of science.