Research at SLAC

Particle accelerators are the working engines of much of SLAC's research. Advances in accelerator technology at SLAC will create the tools needed for the next generation of science research, in elementary particle physics, X-ray science, and biological and medical studies and applications.

SLAC scientists look to the skies, and conduct experiments deep underground, to understand the history and evolution of the universe, reveal the mysteries of cosmic objects and search for new fundamental laws of nature.

Searching for answers to fundamental questions about the most basic constituents of matter and the forces between them, SLAC scientists study the collisions of high-energy particles which have been accelerated to more than 99.999% of the speed of light.

Strength, flexibility, heat resistance, and other properties of materials depend on their nanoscale structures. Understanding the nanoscale will allow researchers to create more useful materials for myriad applications.

Researchers are seeking cleaner, greener technologies and processes for environmental remediation through a better understanding of environmentally important molecular processes.

Discovering the shapes and structures of basic biological components, like proteins, provides a path to understanding how biology works on the molecular level. Understanding biological structures will lead to improved pharmaceuticals among many other applications.

Atoms and molecules move and interact in quadrillionths of seconds. By capturing these ultrafast processes in action, researchers will better understand the dynamics of matter with a view to manipulating and controlling the nanoscale in new, useful ways.